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“Soon the two were conversing most familiarly.” 


[Page 14. 





ROSA’S QUEST 

OR 

THE WAY TO THE BEAUTIFUL 
LAND 


BY 

ANNA POTTER WRIGHT 



New York Chicago Toronto 

Fleming H. Revell Company 

London and Edinburgh 



LIBRARY «f CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

NOV 28 1905 

^ Copyricht Entry 

CLASS (K XXC. No 

/ 

COPY B. 


Copyright, 1905, 

, ; , BY 

Th* Bibl* Institute Colportage Association 
or Chicago. 


"To my mother y 

who abides in the “ beautiful landf 
I dedicate this ^ my first book. 




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CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER. PAGE. 

L “ How Much is the Fare?” - - - 9 

II. Esther’s Perplexity - - - - 19 

III. Rosa’s Mother Moves - - - - 26 

IV. Fife with Mrs. Gray - - - - 37 

V. The Way Sought - - - - - 51 

VI. The Way Found ----- 68 

VII. Victory! - - - - - - 91 

VIII. Dust to Dust 105 

IX. “A Tittle Child Shall Dead Them ” - 1 1 2 


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I. 

^^HOW MUCH IS THE FARE?’’ 

'‘Rosa! Rosar 

“Yes’m, Mis’ Gray, I’m coming.” 

“Well, fer land sakes then, hurry up, you lazy girl ! 
I’ve been a-hollerin’ till my throat’s sore. You’re al- 
ways underfoot when you ain’t wanted, then when you 
are wanted, you’re no place to be found. If you wuz 
my girl, you’d be learnt to know more’n you know now, 
I can tell you that. I believe in young uns amountin’ 
to somethin’, but it’s mighty little you know.” 

“But, Mis’ Gray,” faltered poor little Rosa, “mother 
was coughing awful, and I didn’t hear you.” 

“Yes, your ma ag’in. I don’t know what you’ll 
have fer an excuse when she’s gone, or what’ll become 
of you either. I know one thing, though ; I won’t have 
9 


10 


‘"how much is the: ^are:?"' 


you. But it’d be a heap sight better fer you if I would, 
and a real blessin’, too.” 

'‘Why, where’s mother going. Mis’ Gray?” asked 
Rosa with wide-open and frightened eyes. 

"There, there, Sary, don’t talk to the child so! 
Never mind, Rosa dear, Sary don’t mean it. Sary’s a 
good woman, yes, a very good woman.” 

"I do too mean it, father, and I jest want you to 
keep still. You always take her part. Yes, I am a 
good woman, or I’d never kep’ you after poor Tom got 
killed. I have to sew my finger ends off to git us 
enough to eat and to pay the rent. I always did have 
bad luck from the day I married Tom Gray. He 
would insist on keepin’ you, and you wuz sick that 
summer he couldn’t git no work. He’d walk all day 
a-tryin’ to find somethin’ to do, then set up all night 
with you, though I told him it wuzn’t necessary. I 
washed and I sewed and I done everything, but our 
little home had tp go. I thought then, and I think 
now, that we could a-kep’ it, if it hadn’t been fer you. 
If Tom could git hold of a cent at all, it would go fer 
medicine, or somethin’ fer you to eat. After you got 
well, he found a place to work, and wuz a-tryin’ to git 
back the home, when he went and got killed, a-tryin’ 
to keep a poor, good-fer-nothin’ beggar from bein’ run 
over by the streetcar. All he left me wuz you to look 


''how much is the: if are?’’ 


II 


after, and you ain’t never had a bit of sense, since the 
day he wuz brought home to me all torn and bleedin’. 
There ain’t many that’s had as much to put up with as 
I have. I guess most daughters- in-law would jest 
have told you to leave, but no, I’ve been a-keepin’ you 
fer the last five years, and no tellin’ how much longer 
you’ll live ! And you didn’t mind me this mornin’, 
and I sprained my ankle a-goin’ ” 

"Grandpa,” broke in Rosa, heedless of Mrs. Gray’s 
irascible tongue, "what does she mean about mother 
going away?” 

"Why, I don’t know, child; I ain’t heard no talk 
about her leavin’, but then I git things so mixed up 
since Tom died.” 

"Rosa Browning, I didn’t call you in here to ask 
foolish questions. I want you to deliver this package, 
and quick, too. If you hadn’t talked so much, you 
could be well on your way by this time. It goes to 
that lady over on Lake Avenue, where I sent you 
once before.” 

"Oh, where I heard the beautiful music ?” 

"Yes, but don’t you loiter on your way to listen to 
no music! Fine music ain’t for the likes of us here 
on Burton street. It’s a shame fer me to have to pay 
your carfare, but I ’spose you can’t carry that big pack- 
age so far. If you’d spend a little more time a-workin’, 


12 


*'how much is the eare?” 


and a little less a-lookin’ after your ma, you’d have 
more strength. I won’t have it said that I git work 
done fer nothin’, so I’ll give you ten cents besides. 
You git a piece of beefsteak with it, and I’ll broil it fer 
your ma’s supper. You couldn’t fix it fit to eat, no- 
how. I hope to goodness she won’t cough all night 
and keep me awake.” 

“Oh, thank you. Mis’ Gray, you are so kind,” de- 
lightedly exclaimed Rosa, her wan little face lighting 
up with genuine pleasure at the thought that mother 
was going to have something good for supper. 

“Now do be gone, and don’t talk no more. You’re 
enough to set me crazy, you and father.” 

“I’m off now. Mis’ Gray. Goodby, grandpa dear,” 
she affectionately said, kissing the old man’s withered 
cheek, for these two children of the tenement, the one 
eight and the other eighty, were the best of friends. 

“Rosa,” called once again Mrs. Gray’s shrill voice, 
as the child was making her way across the dark hall, 
“come back here!” 

“Yes’m, Mis’ Gray, here I am.” 

“You’re so awful careless, you see to it that you 
don’t lose that money I give you. If you do, you’ll 
be sorry. You won’t git the pay fer the work; I 
wouldn’t trust you with that, nohow. Now hurry up 
and don’t waste another minute! Wait! can’t you 


‘'how much is the eare?” 13 

give me a chance to tell you what I want? You’re so 
provokin’. Be sure to tell your ma where you’re go- 
in’, and that it’ll take you about an hour and a half. I 
don’t want her a-gettin’ scared and a-hollerin’ ’round 
and a-sendin’ some one after you, like she did that day 
you didn’t git home till dark. She acted ridiculous, as 
if she thought you never would come back. I couldn’t 
fer the life of me see what 'made her do so; it was 
real silly, and I told her so at the time. I did think,, 
though, that you’d ought to be licked fer not hurryin’ 
up more, but she jest kissed you and cried all the more 
when I said so. Go and tell her now, and be sure you 
don’t drop that package in the dirt.” 

This time Rosa started on a run, lest she might be 
called back once more. She feared the tyrant, but 
vainly endeavored to love her for grandpa’s sake. He 
so often told her that "Sary was a good woman, yes, a 
very good woman.” 

“Mother dear,” she said, upon entering their one 
poverty-stricken, but scrupulously neat, little room, 
“I’m going to deliver a package over on Lake Avenue 
for Mis’ Gray, and will not be back for about an hour 
and a half, she told me to tell you ; and she gave me 
ten cents, too. Ain’t that nice? I’m going to get 
some beefsteak, and she’ll broil it. 

“But, mother, she said something about your going 


14 


''how much is the take?” 


away, and didn’t know what would become of me. 
You won’t move, will you, without taking me along? 
I don’t know what she could have meant. What did 
she mean, anyhow? Why do you cry, mother dear?” 
tremulously inquired the child, rushing impulsively up 
to the side of the bed. 

"We’ll talk when you come back, darling. Kiss me, 
my precious”; and the sufferer fell back upon her pil- 
low, coughing violently, and moaning for very agony 
of spirit. 

With a heart heavier than the huge package, Rosa 
sped down the steep stairway, out into the bitter De- 
cember weather. 

"Oh,” she said, half audibly, "how cold it is! I’m 
glad I haven’t far to go to take the car.” 

Quickly her nimble feet carried her, and in a few 
minutes she was scrutinizing the faces of her fellow- 
passengers. Sitting across the aisle from her was a 
young lady, who to Rosa seemed the embodiment of 
beauty and elegance. While intently studying the fair 
face and neat costume^, this object of her admiration 
suddenly crossed the car and sat down by her side. 
The sweet smile and cordial greeting made the child 
forget her timidity, and soon the two were conversing 
most familiarly. 

"And so you are going to deliver that package over 
on Lake Avenue, are you ?” 


''how much is the EARE?’' 15 

"Yes’m, and Mis’ Gray gave me ten cents fer it, too. 
I’m going to get some steak, and she will broil it for 
mother’s supper. Ain’t that nice? I’d think I’d be 
happy, but I ain’t a bit. I keep wondering what she 
meant about mother going away, and she didn’t know 
what would become of me. Why, lady, mother just 
can’t move now ; she’s sick and has a dreadful cough ! 
She hasn’t even been in to see grandpa and Mis’ Gray 
for a long time. Then I know, anyhow, she’d never 
go and leave me. Of course she wouldn’t, for we’re 
always together. She couldn’t get along without me, 
’cause I take care of her, and I know I couldn’t get 
along without her at all. Mis’ Gray ought to know 
that, for we’ve lived by her a long time. What do 
you ’spose she meant? I can’t think about anything 
else.” 

"Why, my little girl,” replied the stranger, while 
Rosa was more mystified than ever to see the blue 
eyes fill with tears, "sometimes when people are sick, 
they go to a better country than this. Do you know 
about heaven?” 

"Not much, ma’am. When Mis’ Gray goes away 
and mother’s working, grandpa gets his old violin and 
sings to me about the beautiful land. He says that’s 
heaven, but he can’t explain it much to me. He says 
he can’t think right since Tom got killed. You know 


i6 ‘'how much is the: fare:?” 

Tom was his boy. Grandpa is so good. When 
mother moves, I know she will take me, and I wish he 
could go too. But, lady, do you ’spose that’s the 
place where mother’s going?” 

‘T hope so, dear, for she would not cough any more 
there.” 

“Oh, wouldn’t she? I”ll tell her about it, then. 
But how much is the fare? We’re poor, you know.” 

“You do not have to pay any fare to go to that 
beautiful land, because Jesus paid it all long ago.” 

“Oh, how kind ! He must be so good. Last night 
I wakened, and mother kissed me and said that Jesus 
surely would take care of me. Are you real sure He 
paid the fare for everybody?” 

“Yes, I know it, for God so loved the world that He 
gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

“Ain’t that pretty! But where do you start from 
to get there?” 

“Your mother could go right from your home.” 

“But she just ain’t able to go any place; she can’t 
sit up much now. I’ll tell her about it, though, then 
when she’s better, we’ll both go. Does it take long to 
get there?” 

“No, not so very.” 

“I wish we’d known it before it got so cold. It 


“how much is the; 17 

might make her cough worse to go out now. Are 
there many people in this land?’^ 

“Yes, a great many/' 

“Are there more going?" 

“Yes, they are going all the time." 

“Do people here in the city know about it?" 

“Yes." 

“Then why didn't somebody tell me before mother 
got so sick? I just can't bear to see her suffer so, 
and we might be there now. I'm afraid it will be a 
long time before she's well enough to start. Oh, if 
I'd only known ! I'd think somebody should have 
told me. 

“Do folks have enough to eat there? Sometimes 
since mother's not been able to work much, we get so 
awful hungry." 

“They have everything they want, and never get 
hungry." 

“Everything they want, and never get hungry?" 

“Yes," 

“And is it cold there?" 

“No." 

“Do they have to pay. rent ?" 

“No, for Jesus has paid for everything." 

“Oh, oh ! won't it be nice ? How glad mother will 
be when I tell her, for it has been , so hard for us to 
2 


i8 ‘'how much is the eare?’' 

get along this winter. The rent is due next Monday, 
and we have nothing to pay it with, but if mother is 
just well enough to go, it won’t make no difference. 
But the very best part of all, she won’t be coughing 
any more! 

“Oh!” half screamed Rosa, “I forgot to get off, 
and have gone a whole block past Lake Avenue. 
What would Mis’ Gray say to me ?” 

Without another word she was gone, for already 
the car was beginning to move on. Scarcely realizing 
what she did, she ran after it for a short distance. 
With a great pang, she remembered that the girl had 
not told her the way to the beautiful land, where 
mother might go and never cough any more. 

Half stunned by bewilderment and disappointment, 
and with her heart heavier than before, she delivered 
her package, purchased the steak, and in due time was 
again at the sufferer’s bedside. 



11 . 

ESTHER’S PERPLEXITY. 

The day was gradually fading into darkness. 

Esther Fairfax, with sadness upon her usually sun- 
shiny face, was sitting before her cheery open fire, 
fruitlessly endeavoring to become interested in her 
newly-purchased book. 

Her room was by no means elegantly furnished, 
but every article it contained, from the rugs upon the 
floor to the pictures upon the wall, reflected the re- 
finement and culture of the fair young occupant. 

Presently, closing her book and tossing it carelessly 
from her hand, she settled back upon her couch for 
good solid meditation, while tears gathered in her 
deep blue eyes, chasing each other in rapid succession 
down her flushed cheeks. 


19 


20 


ESTHER'S PERPLEXITY. 


For some time she lived over the events of the after- 
noon, recalling minutely the details of the unusual con- 
versation with the untaught but interesting child. 

‘^Oh,” she thought, shall never forget those 
words, ‘How much is the fare? We're poor you 
know.' If only I knew where she lives, that I might 
go and see her and minister to the comforts of the dy- 
ing mother! The hungry wistfulness of those eyes 
seems burned into my very soul. 

“Father, I am so glad you have come," she said, 
hastily rising upon hearing the familiar footstep in the 
hall. “I have been waiting a long time for your re- 
turn." 

“Why, my child, you have been crying. What is 
it? Are you ill, or have you received an unwelcome 
message ?" 

“No, neither, father, but I am so troubled about a 
little girl I saw in the car this afternoon, and who dis- 
appeared almost magically." 

“Come into my study and tell me all about it, 
Esther." 

Although Dr. Fairfax was the pastor of one of the 
largest churches in the city, he always had time for 
his beloved and motherless daughter. 

“When I was coming from down town this after- 
noon," she began, “a very small girl with a very large 


e;sther"s perplexity. 


21 


package in her arms stepped aboard the car. Her face 
was so sweet and innocent that one would notice it 
even in a crowd, but overshadowed by an expression 
of care far too heavy for her baby years. Her eyes, 
were large, dark and unusually lustrous, while her 
wavy brown hair fell about her face and neck in rich 
profusion. Her clothing was scant and old, but clean 
and very neatly mended. The whole appearance of 
the child was so pathetically irresistible that I went 
and sat down by her side, taking her cold little hand 
within my own. 

^‘She talked freely, telling me that her name is Rosa 
Browning. As I now recall the conversation, I find 
that I know but little indeed of her actual circum- 
stances, and nothing at all of the location of her home. 

“She spoke most tenderly now and then of ‘grand- 
pa’, and occasionally mentioned ‘Mis’ Gray’, who, I im- 
agine, is not specially noted for her amiability. But 
oh, father, when she would refer to her mother, it 
seemed that her heart was almost crushed with anxiety, 
and that her burden was greater than she could bear I” 

With tears still flowing, Esther then told of Rosa’s 
bewilderment concerning her mother’s rumored mov- 
ing, and of her own efforts to explain what this mov- 
ing probably meant. 

The strong man, accustomed as he was to the tales 


22 


Esther's perpIvExity. 


of woe and misery among the poor and outcast, bowed 
his head and wept also. The pathos of the child’s 
simple, direct questions impressed him quite as much 
as it had Esther. 

'But how much is the fare ? How much is the 
fare ?’ ’’ he repeated over and over. 

“Truly you answered well, daughter. We have no 
fare to pay, no, none, for Jesus paid it all! But what 
a price — the life of the Son of the Most High God, 
who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery 
to be equal with God : but made Himself of no reputa- 
tion, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and 
was made in the likeness of men: and being found in 
fashion as a man. He humbled Himself, and became 
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross 1” 

For some minutes they remained in silence, lost in 
the thought of the price of redemption. 

“It is unfathomable, father,” at last Esther said 
softly, “and to think that His death was for even little 
Rosa, and the poor child knew nothing about it! I 
felt ashamed and speechless when she asked me why 
she had never been told before, having no reasonable 
answer whatever to give. I wish I could tell you 
with what earnestness she said, 'Are you real sure He 
paid the fare for everybody?’ A fact so stupendous 
seemed quite beyond her power of comprehension.” 
“Yes, daughter. His death included the fare for her 


e:sthe:r's pe;rpi.e:xity. 


23 


as well as for you and for me. In every soul He sees 
a pearl of greatest price.’’ 

"‘But Rosa left before I could explain anything to 
her about the way of salvation. Perhaps she will find 
no one to tell her, and her mother is almost dead. Oh, 
that I knew where she lives! All she needs is some 
one to guide her, then perhaps she would lead her 
mother and grandpa, and even Mrs. Gray into the light 
of His love. 

''Why is it, father, that so few Christians speak of 
Jesus to those whom they meet? They talk fluently 
of everything else, but the mentioning of His name 
seemingly paralyzes their tongues. This city is full 
of churches, with many thousands who profess to be 
the Lord’s, yet Rosa in reality has never heard of Him. 
Every day of her life, as she goes upon the street, or is 
in a car, she comes into contact with some one who 
might lead her precious little soul to Christ. Just one 
moment of conversation would help her so, and is it 
possible that there is none who cares? Why is it? 
How can those who know Him truly be so utterly in- 
different ?” 

"My child, you ask me what I cannot answer. I 
spend many hours of prayer and study upon every ser- 
mon I preach, and seek to deliver it in the power of 
the Holy Spirit. Then after having cast myself ut- 
terly upon Him, it is simply crushing to know that at 


24 


eisthsr's pe:rpi.e;xity. 


times the message falls upon deaf ears. The tide of 
worldliness sweeping over the churches is at the root of 
the whole matter. Many to whom I preach are saved, 
but oh, so few surrendered! They want just enough 
of Christ to help them in times of trouble, to make 
sure of heaven being their ultimate goal, and just as 
much of this world as they can possibly carry along. 
It is their ambition to be His for eternity, but not for 
time. Oh, that they might know the unspeakable joy 
of a consecrated life, and of leading souls to Him! 
After once experiencing it, the charms of this world 
sink into utter insignificance, while the realities of the 
next become more and more certain. 

^‘The weight of my responsibility well nigh crushes 
me at times, for the Lord knows that I want to lead 
His people aright. How I yearn for absolute sur- 
render upon the part of myself and of my church! 
When I remember Christ’s words, ‘Out of the abun- 
dance of the heart the mouth speaketh,’ it makes me fear 
that many, indeed, of this generation shall say in vain 
at that day, Lord, Lord! It is a fearful thing for 
those who profess to know Him, to go up into His 
presence, leaving behind some still groping in dark- 
ness because of their unfaithfulness. If it is possible 
now for the Saviour ever to be unhappy, surely luke- 
warm Christians must pain Him the most.” 

“Father, I want to find Rosa. If I had been more 


e:sthe:r's perplexity. 


25 


eager for her soul and for the glory of the Lord, I 
should have left the car and followed her. How can 
I begin the search? It seems so utterly impossible, 
yet I must.’’ 

‘‘My darling, it would be folly for you to try to find 
this child, but let us ask God to send her to us. He 
can direct in some way. He sees her this very mo- 
ment, and sees us as well.” 

A new and radiant light flooded Esther’s face with 
joy, as they arose from their knees. 

“I am sure He will hear us, father, dear,” she said, 
“for it was by no mere chance I saw her today. The 
Lord’s directing hand was in it. He will, I know, 
forgive my unfaithfulness and open another oppor- 
tunity. 

“Let us sing ‘The Home of the Soul’, father. How 
mother loved that song, when she knew that soon she 
would behold the beauties of the place !” 

The two voices, the one a sweet soprano, the other 
a fine tenor, blended in the old-time hymn : 

“I will sing you a song of that beautiful land, 

The far away home of the soul, 

Where no storms eyer beat on that glittering strand. 
While the years of eternity roll.” 

At the conclusion of the song, Esther kissed her 
father and quietly left the room. 



III. 

ROSA’S MOTHER MOVES. 

''Miss Browning, here’s your steak I broiled fer you 
and some toast and tea. I fixed some fer Rosa, too; 
you’re so mighty queer, I knew you wouldn’t eat un- 
less she had some. I can’t afford to buy her any more, 
and there ain’t many that’d done it this time. I have 
to work awful hard fer all I git.” 

"Thank you, Mrs. Gray, you are very kind, but,” 
she added softly, lest Rosa who had run in to speak to 
grandpa might hear, "if only I knew what would be- 
come of her! Oh, my poor child! how can I bear to 
leave her, and what will her future be?” 

The moans of the poor, tortured mother, whose life 
was fast ebbing away, were most piteous. 

26 


ROSASS MOTHEIR MOVEJS. 


27 


‘‘Now, Mis’ Browning, don’t take on so; chirk up a 
bit! She’s plenty old enough to work and make her 
own livin’. Of course you couldn’t expect me to say 
I’d keep her. Land sakes ! Grandpa’s all I can man- 
age now, and he’s gittin’ worse and more tryin’ every 
day. Why, jest this mornin’ when I wuz that busy I 
didn’t know what to do a-finishin’ up that sewin’, what 
should he do but stumble ag’in the coal pail and upset 
the whole thing right on the floor, and jest after I’d 
scrubbed, too! Then I thought I’d git rid of him a 
few minutes by sendin’ him to the grocery. Of course 
I never trust him with a cent of money. They know 
him at the corner grocery, so it’s all right; but it all 
comes of my credit a-bein’ so good, that’s the reason. 
Well, I told him it wuz not necessary fer him to be 
gone but fifteen minutes, but when he wuz gone 
twenty, I had to put my work down and go after him. 
I’d better have gone in the first place. That’s always 
the way when I trust him fer anything, it jest makes 
it that much harder fer me in the end. I had to go 
clean down the stairs, and in some way twisted my 
ankle, so I ain’t got over it yet; then I saw him a- 
comin’, but that slow, it made me real provoked. If 
he’d jest a-hurried up a little, it would have saved 
me all that trouble. He said he wuz tired, but I think 
I wuz the one to be tired, a-hurryin’ down them steps 
so, and a-gittin’ hurt, too. 


28 


Rosa's mothe;r moves. 


“Land sakes, Mis’ Browning, I’d think you could 
see I have my hands more’n full now, though I don’t 
wonder you would like to have Rosa brought up by 
me. I could train her mighty well, so as she’d know 
how to do somethin’. She’s old enough to work, and 
I’ll keep an eye on her and correct her whenever she 
needs it, and that’ll be often. I’d think you’d ought 
to be satisfied with that. There ain’t many that’d take 
sech an interest in a homeless little waif, I can tell 
you. 

“You eat your supper now, and I’ll tell Rosa to 
come home. That’s one thing she’ll have to quit, a- 
wastin’ so much time. What she sees in grandpa is 
more’n I can tell, fer he ain’t got a bit of sense. Often 
in the night he wakes me up a-hollerin’ and a-carryin’ 
on a-thinkin’ he’s a boy ag’in. There’s not many as 
patient as I am, or they wouldn’t put up with it.” 

Every word was a knife thrust through the sensi- 
tive, bleeding heart of the distracted mother. 

“Oh,” she thought, “that some one in this great, 
crowded city might love my darling, and that she need 
not fall into the hands of this woman ! 

“Mrs. Gray,” she asked excitedly, and with an effort 
controlling the great dry sobs which were choking her, 
“won’t you promise me one thing? Won’t you keep 
Rosa at least till spring ? What can my baby do with- 


ROSASS MOTHER MOVES. 


29 


out a home and without a mother, especially when the 
weather is so bitterly cold ? The mere thought of such 
a possibility drives me insane with fear and grief. 
She can run errands for you, and grandpa loves her 
so. Do not deny me, for I am almost dead 

Mrs. Gray half staggered backward, for never be- 
fore had she heard Mrs. Browning speak with such 
intensity. The dark eyes riveted upon her conquered 
even this unfeeling heart, and before realizing the im- 
port of her words, granted the request. ‘'But,’' she 
added in the same breath, “there ain’t many that’d do 
it, I can tell you that.” 

“And be gentle with her, Mrs. Gray. She is so af- 
fectionate, she will miss her mother and the love I have 
always bestowed upon her.” 

Thinking that other promises still more difficult to 
fulfill might be exacted, Mrs. Gray hastily left the 
room. 

“Thank God,” the mother murmured falling back 
upon her pillow, “my baby will have food and shelter 
at least till spring, but how she will miss the love 1” 

The hot tears began coursing down the flushed 
cheeks, causing Rosa to give a cry of alarm as she 
stepped up to the bedside. 

“Mother dear, do you feel worse? Why do you 
cry?” 


30 


Rosa's mother moves. 


“My darling, mother is tired now and cannot talk. 
Pull the little table up by the bed, then if I can eat 
some supper, we shall talk afterward. There is some- 
thing I want to tell you." 

Mechanically she obeyed, weighted beneath the feel- 
ing that something dreadful was about to happen. 
The trembling of the tiny hands and twitching of the 
delicate face betrayed a heart suffering which a child 
of her tender years should never know. 

The odor of the steak, while being broiled, had given 
Rosa an appetite, for her dinner had consisted only of 
boiled potatoes. Now, however, that mother appar- 
ently did not relish her supper, it seemed that every 
mouthful would choke her. 

With a feeling of relief, the supper things at last 
were cleared away, and Rosa sat down by the sufferer, 
taking her hot thin hand within her own. 

“You need not talk, mother, if you do not feel like 
it, but I do so want to know about the moving, and 
you won’t go without me, will you? But oh, I have 
such good news, I must tell you the very first thing! 
Mebbe it will change your plans and make it easier to 
know what to do. 

“I saw a lovely lady today, and she told me about a 
beautiful land some place, where folks never cough no 
more, and they don’t have to pay rent, and they have 


Rosa's mother moves. 


31 


all they want to eat. And she said, too, that it don’t 
cost nothing to go, nor after you get there, ’cause 
Jesus paid all the fare a long time ago. I wish I knew 
where to find Jesus, so He could explain all about it. 
I had to leave the car before the lady could tell me the 
way. I think He must be so good to pay the fare for 
everybody. There’s no mistake, ’cause she said some- 
thing about God so loving the world. I don’t know 
what she meant, but it was so pretty. I know I’d love 
Jesus so, if I could only find Him, and He’d tell us 
how to go. I’m sure He would. 

“Oh, mother, why do you cry so much? Don’t feel 
so, for I’ll try my very best to find out the way, then 
we’ll both go. It will be so nice, won’t it, for you not 
to have a cough no more? And mebbe we can man- 
age to get off before the rent is due again.” 

The anxious little nurse, old beyond her years, ten- 
derly kissed the pallid brow, repeating soothingly the 
assurance that in some way she would find out how to 
reach this beautiful land. 

“O God,” at last the invalid faltered after several 
minutes of silence, “forgive me and take me to that 
beautiful land, for Jesus’ sake, and care for my dar- 
ling! 

“Rosa dear, my breath is growing very short, but I 
must tell you something. You are too young to know 


32 


ROSASS mothe;r moves. 


what it all means now, but try to remember, and some- 
time you will understand. 

“Just ten years ago today I was married to your 
father, Harold Browning; and you are so like him, 
precious. 

“I was left an orphan at the age of fourteen, and 
from that time till the day of marriage, made my living 
by clerking in a down-town store. Your father, too, 
was alone in the world, and how we loved each other ! 

“We rented a small furnished flat, which to me was 
a paradise. Your father was a bookkeeper on a com- 
fortable salary, and for a time all went well. At the 
end of the second year you were born, and then our 
joy knew no bounds. Every evening while holding 
you in his arms, we would plan for the future, you 
being the center of everything. There was not a 
shadow over our lives, till one morning he was not 
able to go to work. In a few hours he became so 
very ill that in great alarm I summoned the doctor. 
Then followed weeks of suspense, the days being di- 
vided between hope and fear, till at last all thought 
of his recovery was given up. My anguish was too 
deep for tears. I went around as one stunned, not 
knowing at times what I was about. Your dear 
father tried to comfort me, pointing me to Jesus whom 
he loved intensely, but who I said was cruel to allow 


Rosa's mother moves. 


33 


our little home nest thus ruthlessly to be broken up. 

“What happened the last days of his life to me is a 
blank, for I myself was very ill. When I recovered 
and paid all the bills, there was not one cent left for 
us. I could hold the flat no longer, so moved here on 
Burton street, making our living, as you know, dar- 
ling, by the day’s work. It has been very hard, for 
often I have felt unable to be out of bed; but then I 
could not let my Rosa suffer.” 

The intervals when the poor heartbroken woman 
had to stop to regain her breath, were growing more 
frequent. 

“But, dearest,” she continued, and in her earnest- 
ness she raised herself partly up, “the worst of all has 
been that I have tried to carry the burden alone. 
Your father told me that I must be brave for your sake, 
and that Jesus would help me; but I would not let 
Him. 

“Last night and today I have been praying much, 
and now, thank God, it is all right!” 

Rosa wondered at the expression of joy flooding her 
mother’s face, immediately followed by one of deepest 
grief. 

“Bend closer, darling, my voice is becoming so 
weak that you cannot hear ! I am so sorry that I did 
not do as your father said, and have never taught you 
3 


34 


Rosa's mother moves. 


of Jesus, and now it is too late ! Fm glad 

the lady told you. Yes, He paid the 

fare ! Fm going to move now to 

that beautiful land!" 

“Oh, mother," sobbed Rosa, beginning to realize a 
little of the import of her words, “please, oh, please 
don’t leave me! What could I ever do without you? 
Nobody loves me but you and grandpa, and I just 
can’t stand it, if you go away." 

With her last atom of strength, the dying mother 
kissed her child, whispering just so that Rosa could 
hear: 

“Find someone to tell you ^the way, and 

come to that ^beautiful land where you 

will find Jesus and mother !" 

So calmly did she fall back upon her pillow that 
Rosa, though awe-struck, thought she was sleeping. 
Still clasping the thin hand, she noticed the chill. 
Cautiously, lest she might disturb the sleeper, she 
slipped off her little flannel skirt, the last article made 
by her mother, and wrapped the cold hands within its 
folds. The scant coverings she also tucked up more 
iilosely and put their last bit of coal upon the fire. 

(Till midnight she sat by the bed, wondering why 
mother was so very still, and why she was growing 
so coldJ" At last, being able to endure the suspense 


ROSASS MOTHER MOVES. 35 

no longer, stepping across the hall, she called for Mrs. 
Gray. 

■‘Land sakes, child, why ain't you in bed this time 
of night?" 

‘Tlease, Mis' Gray, I'd like to borrow a comfort, 
'cause mother's so awful cold, and I can't get her 
warm." 

“Well, when a body's as accommodatin’ as I am, I 
'spose they must expect to be bothered any time of 
day or night, too. I'll git up and see what your ma 
wants. Glad of one thing, she ain’t kept me awake by 
her coughin' tonight, anyway; but it comes from me 
fixin' her a decent supper, I reckon.” 

Mrs. Gray stepped to the door of Mrs. Browning’s 
room, but something impelled her to stop. A fear 
seized her, while involuntarily she clutched Rosa’s 
trembling hand. 

There was no light in the room, save that which 
shone from across the hall, the faint rays falling di- 
rectly over the motionless form upon the bed. 

“Mis' Browning," she cautiously asked, “do you 
want anything?" 

“Mother doesn’t hear. Mis’ Gray," said Rosa sobbing 
violently and throwing herself within the cold arms, 
kissing over and over the lips hitherto so responsive to 
her own.y 


36 


ROSASS MOTHER MOVES. 


‘‘Mother dear, don’t you hear me? Oh, wake up, 
please do! I want you so. I don’t know the way, 
' and will get lost to go alone.” 

“Rosa,” said Mrs. Gray almost gently, “git up and 
go and stay with grandpa till I tell you to come in 
here, and don’t you come before. I’ll have to go 
down them steps ag’in fer an undertaker.” 

“What is an undertaker. Mis’ Gray, and what do 
they do? Will they take mother to the beautiful 
land?” 

“Didn’t you hear me tell you to go in and stay with 
grandpa? So go right this minute, and ask no more 
questions. You do beat all fer askin’ questions, any- 
how. You might as well learn now as any time to 
mind, since I have to keep you till spring. I ain’t the 
woman to go back on my word, but there ain’t many 
but what would, a-promisin’ under the circumstances.” 

The little heart was nearly crushed with a feeling of 
perplexity and of indescribable dread, but, after all, 
there was some comfort in being alone with grandpa. 

Stealing softly into his room, she found him sitting 
by the stove; and climbing up into his lap, pillowing 
her tired head upon his shoulder, the two lonely chil- 
dren, soothing each other, were soon fast asleep. 



IV. 

LIFE WITH MRS. GRAY. 

The events of the next few days were like a troubled 
dream to Rosa, as she in vain endeavored to compre- 
hend the meaning of all the mysterious things going 
on about her. Only once was she allowed to look 
upon the silent sleeper. That was just before the ar- 
rival of the great black carriage, which, she was sure, 
would take her mother to the beautiful land. 

''Rosa ain’t goin’ to the burial, I can tell you that,” 
announced Mrs. Gray to a neighbor, "or she’d be a-hol- 
lerin’ in her sleep all winter. I’ve been broke of my 
rest so much that I ain’t goin’ to be bothered with her 
any more’n I can help from now on. I didn’t promise 
to keep her only till spring, but I can make her run 
errands and sich, so it won’t cost me a great sight. I 


37 



38 


UFE; with MRS. GRAY. 


can’t afford it no other way, and Mis’ Browning was 
unreasonable, anyhow, to ask it of me.” 

Rosa and grandpa stood hand in hand, watching 
the small procession until it disappeared around the 
corner. 

'"Grandpa,” queried Rosa in a tearful voice, "do 
you know where that beautiful land is where folks 
never cough no more, and where they don’t have to 
pay rent? That’s where mother’s going, and she told 
me to find out the way, so I could go too.” 

" Tears like I’d ought to know, child, fer that’s 
where Tom went. I can’t think much somehow, but, 
Rosa,” he added tenderly, drawing her up closer to 
his side, "T don’t want you to go and leave me, fer I’m 
so lonesome. Sary’s a good woman, yes, a very good 
woman, but it seems like I need you, too, dearie.” 

"Grandpa, if we’d start out together, don’t you think 
we could find it? Folks have all they want to eat 
there, and I’m hungry now.” 

"Why, yes, yes, mebbe we could! Some way I’m 
gittin’ homesick. I don’t like it here in the city, and 
it seems like I used to know more about that land than 
I do now. Since poor Tom got killed, I can’t remem- 
ber no how. 

"Sometimes in the night I git that happy, but if I 
make a little noise, Sary wakes me up, ’cause it bothers 


UFe; with MRS. GRAY. 


39 


her, then that spoils it all. I think I’m back in the 
country ag’in, and the church bell is a-ringin’ of a 
Sunday mornin’. Tom’s mother and me start out from 
the little cottage, and I’m a-carryin’ Tom. We walk 
down the cool grassy lane with the brook a-runnin’ on 
one side, and the trees is a-wavin’ in the soft breeze, 
and the birds is a-singin’, and Tom’s mother stops to 
pick some wild roses. And the little white meetin’ 
house with the steeple a-p’intin’ straight up. My 
Rosa, I wish you could see it, and with vines a-growin’ 
all over it ! I can ’most git it, then it slips away ag’in. 
If I could jest be inside of that meetin’ house once 
more, it would all come straight, I know, fer there they 
used to talk and sing about that land and Jesus.” 

‘‘Yes, grandpa, you know it was Jesus that paid the 
fare. Wasn’t He kind to do that? ’cause if He hadn’t 
poor folks couldn’t go.” 

‘‘Yes, mighty kind, mighty kind ! 

'‘Rosa,” after a pause, “come real close,” and the 
faded eyes sparkled with a new thought; “I want to 
whisper somethin’ so nobody’ll hear. The very first 
day Sary’s away, let’s start out, and mebbe we can 
find some one to tell us how to go. Will you, child?” 

“Oh, yes, grandpa, good! then we’ll find mother.” 

In her delight she clapped her hands for very joy. 

“Sh! sh! child, Sary might hear, and that would 


40 


life: with MRS. GRAY. 


spoil it all, though of course Sary’s a good woma^ 
yes, a very good woman. You won’t tell, will you? 

“No, no, grandpa, this’ll be our secret. ' I’m just 
sure there must be lots of folks that can tell us, for 
the fare is paid for everybody, and they’re going all 
the time. But I do wish we could find that pretty 
lady again I saw on the car.” 

“Yes, dearie, I wish so too, but I think we’ll find it 
anyhow. I’m a-gittin’ so very homesick, we jest 
must.” 

“Sing about that land, won’t you, grandpa?” 

“All right, you git the fiddle. That’s the only song 
I can remember. They used to sing it in the little 
white meetin’ house with the steeple a-p’intin’ straight 
up. Wish I could remember more, but I can’t.” 

In a quavery voice he sang many times over the 
grand old hymn : 

“I will sing you a song of that beautiful land, 

The far away home of the soul, 

Where no storms ever beat on that glittering strand, 
While the years of eternity roll. 

Oh, that home of the soul in my visions and dreams, 

Its bright, jasper walls I can see, 

Till I fancy but thinly the vail intervenes 
Between that fair city and me! 


UFe: with MRS. GRAY. 


41 


That unchangeable home is for you and for me. 

Where Jesus of Nazareth stands; 

The King of all kingdoms forever is He, 

And He holdeth our crowns in His hands. 

Oh, how sweet it will be in that beautiful land. 

So free from all sorrow and pain. 

With songs on our lips and with harps in our hands. 

To meet one another again!” 

“That must be the place, grandpa, for it says Jesus 
is there, and that we’ll meet one another again.” 

“Yes, yes, child, it’s the place. I’m mighty sure of 
that, and I’m so glad we’re a-goin’ to find it. I’ll like 
it so much better than the city. I wonder I ain’t gone 
before.” 

The two sang and talked till the twilight began to 
fall, then they heard Mrs. Gray shuffling up the stairs. 

“Now don’t fergit and tell, Rosa,” hurriedly whis- 
pered grandpa. 

“Oh, no indeed, and we’ll go the very first chance 
we have. Won’t mother be glad to see us?” 

“Land sakes, Rosa, you look and act a heap like 
you’d jest lost your ma. I heard that fiddle and you 
a-singin’ with grandpa long before I got up the steps. 
But it is real lucky fer you, though, that I’ll have you 
to manage till spring. You’ll learn how to do some- 
thin’ a-stayin’ here with me, or I’ll miss my guess. 


42 


WITH MRS. GRAY. 


“Why ain’t you got a brisker fire started up fer 
supper? Do it right this minute. It’ll be somethin’ 
new fer you to have a cooked meal every day, and 
sometimes two or three of them. But you’ll have to 
earn them first, or eat by yourself, and jest what you 
can git. 

“I ain’t a-goin’ to keep you fer nothin’. Hurry up 
now, fer I’m cold, and my ankle’s ’most a-killin’ me. 
Father’d ought to be shook yet, fer causin’ me so 
much trouble. No tellin’ how much longer it’ll pain 
me, and I shouldn’t wonder if it’d lay me up.” 

Thus rudely was Rosa’s reverie broken in upon, 
bringing her face to face with her present dingy sur- 
roundings in general, and with Mrs. Gray in particu- 
lar. Her first impulse was to run home, then in agony 
she remembered that her mother was not there. 

Patiently she worked away till the fire was started. 
Mrs. Gray’s bulky form in the meantime was swinging 
energetically back and forth in the one rocking chair 
of her two-room apartment, while her voluble tongue 
wagged mercilessly on. 

“You can cook them potatoes and fry some mush 
and make me a cup of tea. You and father can drink 
water ; tea ain’t good fer children nohow, ha, ha ! 

“Ugh, this fire feels good! I’m glad I ain’t where 
your ma is tonight.” 


life; with MRS. GRAY. 


43 


‘‘Why, Mis’ Gray,” half sobbed Rosa, “didn’t 
mother go to the beautiful land?” 

“You be still and git supper, and don’t ask me no 
questions !” 

“There, there, dearie, don’t cry! Of course your 
ma went there.” It was grandpa who spoke. 

“A heap you know about it, father, and I jest want 
you to keep still, too 1 

“Look out there! Don’t you spatter no grease a- 
fryin’ that mush, or you’ll wish you hadn’t. I believe 
in the good old-fashioned rod, and there’s one stuck 
up over that door, handy like. See it?” 

To her great dismay, looking in the direction indi- 
cated, Rosa beheld a cruel whip, the first one ever 
intended for her. Her little frame shook so violently 
from fear that grandpa could endure it no longer. 

“Tut, tut, Sary; Rosa ain’t the child to need no 
whippin’, and don’t skeer the poor lamb so. 

“Never mind, dearie,” reaching out for her a with- 
ered hand, “Sary don’t mean it; Sary’s a good woman, 
yes, a very good woman.” 

“Father, I want you to remember right now that 
you ain’t to put no say in when I correct her. There 
ain’t but one boss here, and that’s me, so there! Do 
you understand? I ’spose not, though, fer you ain’t 
got no sense. You’re tryin’ enough, goodness knows. 


44 


UFe: with MRS. GRAY. 


that there ain’t many but what’d use the rod on you.” 

So blinded by tears that she could not see what she 
was doing, by accident Rosa dropped a piece of the 
fried mush upon the floor. 

'‘There !” shrieked Mrs. Gray, "what did I tell you ? 
I’m a-goin’ to lick you this very minute, now you jest 
see. I guess you’ll learn to mind after I’ve done it a 
few times.” 

"Grandpa !” and with a bound Rosa jumped into the 
old man’s outstretched arms, while tears chased each 
other in quick succession down his faded cheeks. 

Making an effort to arise hastily from her chair, 
Mrs. Gray with a sharp cry of pain, suddenly sank 
backward again. 

"Oh, my ankle’s plum give out — I can’t take one 
step ! But you never mind. I’ll lick you some other 
time, and you needn’t fergit it neither. Git right 
down and clean up that mush, and fix some hot water 
fer me to put my foot in.” 

Seeing the helpless condition of the tyrant, Rosa 
waited long enough before obeying to kiss grandpa, 
and for him to whisper encouragingly: 

'"Never mind, dearie; we’ll go the very first chance 
we have, and if we can’t do no better, we’ll run off.” 

With some degree of composure, Rosa performed 
her tasks, for evidently, judging from the groans of 



“There 1 ” shrieked Mrs. Gray, “what did I tell you?” 

[Page 44. 










I 







t 


t 





i . ¥ i 


t 



» I 



4 



\ 



K 

■ «v 


I < 




UFe; with MRS. GRAY. 47 

the patient, the promised ‘lickin’ ” would be indefi- 
nitely postponed. 

While eating supper, Mrs. Gray divided her atten- 
tions about equally between the two helpless victims of 
her wrath. The sprained ankle was entirely due to 
the fact that grandpa was gone twenty minutes in- 
stead of fifteen, and that she, obliging woman that she 
was, took it upon herself to make all the arrangements 
for Mrs. Browning, instead of looking after her own 
welfare. Not many could be found who would do 
half as much for others as she. 

The grease from that mush would stay in the floor 
all winter, seriously injuring her reputation of being 
the best housekeeper in the thickly populated building. 
She never could endure dirt and disorder, though pov- 
erty-striken from the day she married Tom Gray. 

On the whole, Rosa was so thoroughly miserable 
that very little supper could she eat. The thought 
that she and grandpa would soon find the beautiful 
land and mother, was all that gave her even the slight- 
est ray of hope. “But,” she added mentally, “I am 
sure mother would tell me to stay and take care of 
Mis’ Gray till she can walk again. She always did do 
more talking than anything else, mother said so, mebbe 
she won’t whip me.” 

The evening was long and gloomy, but Rosa was 


48 


LIFE WITH MRS. GRAY. 


kept busily employed, carrying out the peremptory 
commands of the cripple. She bathed and tenderly 
rubbed the offending ankle till her arm ached cruelly. 

At last, with a sigh of relief, wrapping herself up 
in a blanket and lying down upon the floor, she 
dreamed till morning of mother, the beautiful land, 
and of Jesus who paid the fare. 

For three weeks Mrs. Gray was unable to take a 
step except by using a crutch, the pain at times being 
so severe that sewing was out of the question. 

Her slender savings not being sufficient to meet the 
emergency of the case, Rosa in her spare moments 
was obliged to run errands, tend babies while the 
mothers were out working, or to do anything else 
chancing to come her way. 

Her allowance of food often was meager, though 
never once did she complain. Every day she was 
growing more thin and pale, her eyes more large and 
lustrous, while her heart was almost breaking. 

Night after night the swollen ankle had to be gently 
rubbed, or Mrs. Gray could not sleep. No word of 
praise ever escaped the cruel lips, but fretting, scold- 
ing, and threats of the much talked of “lickin' ” for 
that grease spot upon the floor were the only reward 
the weary little worker ever received. 

There was one, however, though his mind was badly 


IvIJPe; with MRS. GRAY. 


49 


shattered, who saw and understood, causing the feeble 
old man to suffer quite as intensely as did the child. 

They could snatch opportunities only now and then 
for a word, fearing that the ever-vigilant Mrs. Gray 
might discover their cherished secret. 

"‘Be brave, dearie,” grandpa would sometimes whis- 
per, “the very first chance, you know!” Then Rosass 
pensive face would light up with a smile angelic, re- 
flecting some of the very beauty itself of the land of 
which they were so earnestly thinking. 

One Thursday afternoon, just as Mrs. Gray was be- 
ginning to walk again, the postman stopped with a 
letter, a rare occurrence. 

“Land sakes, who can it be from?” she exclaimed, 
scrutinizing the envelope quite long enough to have 
read the letter through. 

“I’d like to awful well,” at last . she soliloquized, 
“but don’t ’spose it’d be safe to leave grandpa and 
Rosa here alone. No tellin’ what they’d be up to. 
There ain’t many that’d be as self-sacrificin’ as I am, 
and keep an old man that ain’t got a drop of your own 
blood, then take in as good as a street waif, too. If it 
wuzn’t fer them, I’d do it, I jest would!” 

Rosa’s curiosity was aroused, but experience had 
taught her the futility of asking questions. 

“Rosa,” commanded the speaker, “bring me that tin 
can up there on the shelf. 

4 


with MRS. GRAY. 


SO 

''1 guess I could manage the streetcar fare,” she 
announced a few minutes later, counting over several 
times Rosa’s earnings in pennies, nickels and dimes. 

*‘My old neighbor over on the south side wants me 
to come tomorrow and stay till Monday. Bein’ that 
I’ve had it so awful hard, I jest guess I’ll do it, and 
you can git along the best way you can. Let me see : 
I’ll go tomorrow afternoon, and be gone all day Sat- 
urday and Sunday and till late Monday afternoon. 
I’ll leave you fifteen cents apiece to live on, and I 
guess you won’t starve.” 

Instinctively grandpa and Rosa cast a glance at each 
other. At last their opportunity had come, and a bet- 
ter one by far than for which they had dared to hope ! 

The time intervening between the reception of the 
letter and her departure, Mrs. Gray spent mostly in 
giving directions to her two charges, as she delighted 
to call them. 

After having gone down the first flight of stairs, 
she called back: 

“Rosa, ril lick you sure if you git another speck of 
grease on that there floor, while I’m gone.” 

But Rosa heeded not. Tomorrow she and grandpa 
would start for the beautiful land and mother, for 
Jesus had paid all the fare. 


V. 


THE WAY SOUGHT. 

Early the next morning Rosa and grandpa were up, 
eagerly preparing for the events of the day, their 
every motion evidencing a subdued excitement, while 
joy beamed from their eyes. 

*T’m going to make you some tea, grandpa, ’cause 
it’s cold, and I think you’ll feel better to drink it. 
Mis’ Gray told me I shouldn’t touch it, but since we’re 
going away, I guess it won’t make no difference. We 
may have to travel a good ways, you know. Mother 
used to drink tea, when we could afford it, before 
starting out to work all day. My, ain’t I glad we’re 
going to find mother ! And she won’t be coughing no 
more. I want to see her so bad. Of course Mis’ 
Gray has been good to give me a home, but I’d rather 
be with mother. She’s different some way, and I love 
her so. It seems so long since she went away.” 

51 


52 


THE WAY SOUGHT. 


“Thank you, dearie, fer this tea ; it's real bracin' like, 
and I can’t remember when I’ve had none before, 
Tom used to git it fer me, and anything else I wanted. 

“Yes, I’m mighty glad we’re a-goin’, mighty glad, 
fer I’m a-gittin’ homesicker all the time. I think we’ll 
find Tom, too, and Tom’s mother. There’s a lot I 
want to tell ’em. Sary’s so busy, she don’t have no 
time to talk to me. 

“Last night I dreamed ag’in that I wuz in the little 
white meetin’ house with the steeple a-pintin’ straight 
up. The green vines a-wavin’ in the breeze wuz a- 
growin’ all over it, and the roses smelled so pretty. 
And the man wuz a-readin’ out of the Book, Rosa. 
Wish I could read, then I’d know it fer myself.” 

“What was he reading about, grandpa?” 

“Dunno as I can tell you, child, only somethin’ about 
a river, and a tree by it, and fruit, and the folks don’t 

git sick no more, and well, I can’t tell you, Rosa, 

but hurry up, let’s start! When we git there, we’ll 
know all about it then.” 

“Here, grandpa, put this bread in your pocket, 
please. P’rhaps we’ll need it.” 

“I’ll take it fer you, Rosa, if you say so, but I don’t 
think we’ll need it. ’Pears like the man said some- 
thin’ about their not gittin’ hungry no more, nor 
thirsty.” 


THE) WAY SOUGHT. 


53 


^‘But then mebbe we’ll want it on the way.’’ 

“All right, all right, Rosa, but are you ’most ready? 
Seems like I can’t wait.” 

“Yes, I’m ready now, but I’m so ’fraid you’ll be cold, 
grandpa, dear.” 

“No, no, child, we’ll soon git there.” 

The two children trudged down the three long 
flights of steps, the younger leading the older lest he 
should trip and fall. 

The morning was dreary, with a cold wind blowing 
and with snow flakes scurrying through the air. Both 
being insufficiently clad, they were shivering before 
having gone a block. 

“ ’Tis mighty cold, ain’t it, dearie ? I had no idee 
about it; but then we won’t mind, jest so we git there.” 

“Yes, grandpa, but I hope it won’t take us long, for 
the wind blows so awful hard. It used to make 
mother cough to be out in a wind like this. 

“The big black carriage that came after her, went 
’round this corner, so we’ll go this way too. I’m sure 
nobody on Burton street knows the way anyhow. I’d 
think they would, though, when the fare’s all paid; 
but p’rhaps they’ve never been told about it. 

“When we see a pretty lady dressed fine, we’ll ask 
her, for I guess she’d know; but then it’s for poor 
folks, too. 


54 


the: way sought. 


“I wonder why nobody ever told me about Jesus 
before? I’ll be so glad when I see Him.” 

Tenderly clasping each other by the hand, they 
walked for blocks, meeting hundreds of people, though 
none of them appealed to Rosa’s fancy. She was 
looking for a beautiful girl with blue eyes and a blue 
suit, who would look down upon her with a smile. A 
feeling of uncertainty was beginning to depress her, 
but to grandpa she continued to talk hopefully. 

At last realizing that he was becoming very tired, 
she determined to wait no longer before inquiring the 
way. Singling out of the jostling crowd a well- 
dressed woman with a fur cloak, which Rosa thought 
looked so warm, she stepped up to her, and said : 

^Tlease, ma’am, grandpa and me want to go to the 
beautiful land where folks don’t cough no more. 
Mother’s gone, and Jesus paid all the fare, and it don’t 
cost nothing to live there, neither. Won’t you please 
tell us the way?” 

^'What a very singular question !” was the unfeeling 
reply, the haughty face relaxing not at all as the 
woman passed on. 

‘T think she didn’t understand, grandpa,” said the 
disappointed child, '‘but I’ll try again. There’s a lady 
dressed in blue. I’m pretty sure she’ll know.” 

In a tremulous voice the question was repeated. 


the: way sought. 55 

‘Why, you queer little girl ! Are you talking about 
heaven ?” 

“I don’t know, ma’am, only it’s where Jesus has 
paid the fare, and where there ain’t no rent days to 
come ’round.” 

“Really, I scarcely know what to say, only you and 
this poor old man ought not to be out on this cold , 
day.” 

“We thought we’d soon be there, ma’am, but ’tis 
dreadful cold,” she replied, her slight frame shivering 
violently from head to foot. 

“Can’t you tell us? We want to go so awful bad. 

I should think you could, since it’s for everybody.” 

“It is too cold and crowded to stand here and talk, 
child. Do you go to Sunday school?” 

“No, ma’am; what is Sunday school?” 

“You poor little heathen! Don’t you know what 
Sunday schools are? They have them in all the 
churches. Find one and go tomorrow. They will 
tell you what you want better than I can. 

“Take this quarter and get something to eat, then 
go back home. You will meet no one on the street to 
help you.” 

Having thus somewhat eased her conscience, this 
church-member of many years went on to complete 
her shopping. However, things did not go well the 


56 


the; way sought. 


rest of the day. The wan face, the sad brown eyes 
and the pathetic earnestness of the little questioner 
were constantly before her. 

Stopping to see the church treasurer on her way 
home, she left a check for fifty dollars to be used in 
city mission work, feeling confident that at last her re- 
sponsibility in the case was at an end. 

It was nearing the noon hour, and Rosa was hun- 
gry. 

“I think instead of eating that dry bread in your 
pocket, grandpa, that we’ll get some warm sandwiches. 
You wait : I can get them in here, ’cause I was in one 
time before with mother.” 

Very soon she returned, bringing with her their 
feast. 

'‘Let’s go down this alley and sit on that box. I 
guess the p’licemen won’t care.” 

“All right, dearie, but it’s a mighty long ways to the 
beautiful land, ain’t it? I thought we’d surely be 
there by now, and I’m gittin’ so tired and cold. I 
think if Tom knew we’d started, he’d come and meet 
us.” 

While they were eating, Rosa was frightened to 
hear suddenly the abrupt question in a gruff voice, 
“What are you doing here?” and before her terrified 
eyes loomed a great policeman. 


The; way sought. 


57 


She, like most children of her class, feared instinc- 
tively these city protectors, and would have run, had it 
have not been for grandpa. 

"‘Oh,’’ she replied, with as much dignity and com- 
posure as possible, “we are going to the beautiful land, 
and are just eating our sandwiches. It don’t cost 
nothing to go, ’cause God so loved the world and Jesus 
paid all the fare. Mother’s gone, and folks don’t 
cough no more there. You don’t have to pay rent, 
and can have everything you want, too.” 

So astonished was the policeman at this unexpected 
reply that he forgot to order them away. 

“Well, I never !” at last he ejaculated, being unable 
to think of anything more appropriate for the occasion. 
“But let me tell you, little girl, you and that old man 
want to turn in wherever you came from before dark, 
or you’ll be more likely to go to the police station than 
to this beautiful land you’re talking about.” 

So saying, he started otf upon his beat. 

The mere thought of spending the night at the police 
station so thoroughly terrorized Rosa that her heart 
for the instant almost stood still. 

Billy Bruce, the boy who .lived next door to Mrs. 
Gray, had told her blood-curdling tales concerning his 
oft-repeated experiences in being locked up for the 


58 


the; way sought. 


night, and, moreover, according to his criterion, he 
was always innocent of any misdemeanor. 

“But the worst part of all,” he had confided,” is a 
goin’ before the judge. You know the judge is the 
man what’s made to git folks into trouble.” 

What should she do? Her childish eyes could se^ 
that grandpa was about given out, but the mere 
thought of returning to Burton street filled her with a 
feeling akin to terror. 

“But,” she argued, “Mis’ Gray won’t be home till 
Monday, and mebbe it’s too far to the beautiful land 
that we can’t get there today, anyhow. And I know 
mother’d feel awful if we’d get put in the p’lice sta- 
tion. 

“Say, grandpa,” she suddenly inquired, “why didn’t 
we ask that p’liceman the way? They’re on purpose 
to tell folks how to go. I wish we had, but then I’m 
afraid to speak to another.” 

“I don’t know, child, but I wish we wuz there. I’m 
so cold and tired, and I want Tom.” 

“I’ll tell you, grandpa, let’s go back and get warm 
and rested. You know there is some of that bushel 
of coal left Mis’ Gray got the other day. Then to- 
morrow we can try once more. The lady said some- 
thing about church and Sunday school, but I don’t 
know what she meant. Mebbe we can find some one 


the; way sought. 59 

yet to tell us, when it’s for everybody. I’d think we 
could.” 

^'Jest as you say, dearie, jest as you say, but it ’pears 
like we must find it, ’cause I’m so homesick.” 

Slowly they began retracing their steps, the old man 
leaning heavily with one hand upon the stick which 
served as a cane, and with the other clasping Rosa’s. 

Turning a corner, they suddenly came face to face 
with a well-dressed gentleman who, Rosa thought, 
could certainly tell them. 

“Oh, say, mister,” she said running up to his side, 
“won’t you please ” 

“No, I won’t, you little beggar, I have nothing for 
you.” 

For the instant she was so surprised and indignant, 
that she could not answer, but, collecting herself, 
shouted after him: 

“ We ain’t either beggars, and I don’t want no 
money. I just want to know the way to the beautiful 
land.” 

But the man was lost in the crowd, and the weary, 
disappointed pilgrims started on. 

So frequently did they have to turn aside into some 
alley or secluded spot for grandpa to rest that Rosa 
became alarmed. What if night should overtake them, 
bringing to pass the policeman’s direful prediction? 


6o 


THE WAY SOUGHT. 


She was so tired and cold, and her heart so heavy 
from repeated disappointments, that the tears began 
rolling down her pale cheeks. 

“What is it, my little girl?’^ unexpectedly some one 
gently asked. 

In unutterable surprise, she looked up into the face 
of another policeman who was smiling kindly upon 
her. 

Many a warm heart beats beneath the policeman’s 
star, and Rosa’s evident sorrow had aroused the sin- 
cere sympathy of this one. 

“You and the old man step up here out of the wind 
by this building, and tell me your trouble. Are you 
lost?” 

“No, sir, we ain’t lost, but just can’t find the way.” 

“Not lost, but can’t find the way? How is it? I 
don’t understand. Maybe I can help you, if you will 
explain.” 

At this Rosa broke into uncontrollable sobs, and for 
several minutes could not answer. 

At last, with many a pause, the whole story was told. 

“And oh,” she added, with all the earnestness of 
which her intense nature was capable, “can you really 
tell us ? Please, oh, please do, for I can’t stand it any 
longer without mother, and she’s looking for me, 
’cause Jesus paid the fare. 1 just must go !” 



Rosa broke into uncontrollable sobs. 


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THE WAY SOUGHT. 


63 


“Ah, sweet baby,” he faltered, his massive frame 
shaking with emotion, “Fve a mother in the beautiful 
land looking for me, too ! 

“Long years ago I promised to meet her there, but, 
no, IVe never found the way. I cannot tell you.” 

“If the way’s so hard to find, how do folks get there? 
And lots of them are going, for the lady said so. I do 
wish mother’d come back for grandpa and me”; and 
again the child broke into sobs. 

“Don’t cry any more, little one. They say the way 
is easy to find. Let me think a minute; maybe I can 
help you after all. There’s a big church on the corner 
there, and I know the pastor loves poor people. If 
you should go there tomorrow, he would tell you the 
way, I know. 

“Now cheer up, and get back to your home as soon 
as possible. It will be getting dark presently, and you 
will half freeze. I will walk down to the corner with 
you, and point out the church.” 

Rosa’s hopes were beginning to rise once more, but 
upon beholding the massive stone structure indicated 
by the policeman, she felt less sanguine. 

“Are you real sure, mister, we could find the way 
if we’d go in there?” at .length she said. 

“Yes, I know it, for the pastor has wanted many 
times to teach me the way, and I wouldn’t let him.” 


64 


THE WAY SOUGHT. 


Rosa had no idea who or what the pastor might be, 
and forgot to inquire, because of her unutterable sur- 
prise. 

It was simply unthinkable that any one could delib- 
erately refuse the information which she and grandpa 
so earnestly coveted. 

^‘Mister p’liceman, why didn’t you want to know the 
way?” she gasped, impulsively grasping his big, 
brawny hand. “Wouldn’t you like to know now?” 

“Yes, little one, I would, and by God’s help I will. 
But come, you must be gone! It is almost dark. I’ll 
watch for you in the morning, and take you to the 
door. Be sure not to disappoint me. Goodbye 1” 

That evening in the quiet of his room a wonderful 
thing happened. 

Tucked away in the bottom of his trunk was a Bible, 
given to him years before by his mother, when he was 
but a mere lad. This he brought forth, and till a late 
hour poured over its precious contents. Then falling 
upon his knees, this prodigal of many years found in 
Jesus the true way to the beautiful land. He Himself 
said that no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. 
And an unspeakable peace filled his soul. 

The last half mile of their walk seemed almost inter- 
minable both to Rosa and grandpa. 

As the darkness began to gather, every shadow to 


THE WAY SOUGHT. 65 

her excited imagination was transformed into a police- 
man coming to lock them up. 

After the trying experiences of the day, it was a 
relief to be back once more in the dingy rooms which 
they had expected never to see again. 

Rosa soon had a fire feebly burning in the little 
stove, then prepared a scanty supper, oifset by another 
cup of tea for grandpa. 

The shabby couch she pulled up by the stove for 
him, and did all within her power to make him warm 
and comfortable. 

Sitting by his side and watching him solicitously, 
she was beginning to fear that he might not be able 
for the journey tomorrow, for without a doubt he was 
much exhausted. At last the tears began rolling down 
his face and fell upon her hand. 

^‘Oh, grandpa, what is it she asked, the tears com- 
ing to her own eyes. “You ain’t sick, are you?” 

“No, no, dearie, but mighty dis’p’inted. I thought 
we’d be there tonight sure, and I’m so homesick ! Too 
bad, too bad, ain’t it, when the fare’s all paid, and 
they’re a-looking fer us ? We wouldn’t git hungry nor 
cold there, neither, nor tired.” 

“Yes, but, grandpa dear, the p’liceman said we could 
find the way tomorrow in that great big building. Of 
course he must know, don’t you think so?” 

5 


66 


THE WAY SOUGHT. 


"‘Say, Rosa,” he asked excitedly, not noticing her 
question, and rising partly up, while his eyes sparkled 
with new hope, “I can’t remember, but did it have a 
steeple a-p’intin’ straight up?” 

"‘Yes, such a big one, grandpa. It must go pretty 
nearly to the sky.” 

“Then it’ll be all right, I’m mighty sure of that, but 
it ’pears like it’d ought to have green vines a-runnin’ 
all over it, and with roses a-gr owin’ ’round. Wuz 
there any?” 

“No, grandpa, for this is winter, you know. The 
roses won’t be blooming outdoors now, but sometimes 
I see them in the stores.” 

“And so we’ll git there tomorrow, Rosa,” he added 
dreamily, “and not be dis’p’inted no more! I’m so 
mighty glad, so mighty glad.” 

Grandpa was asleep, but becoming more and more 
restless. His hands no longer were cold, but felt hot 
to Rosa, as she vainly endeavored to keep them cov- 
ered. The flushed cheeks and rapid breathing con- 
vinced his faithful and experienced young nurse that 
it would be wise for her to sit by his side till morning. 
The hours were long and dreary, and at every sound 
her overtaxed nerves would cause her to start. Some- 
. times she was sure that a policeman was coming after 
them; and again Mrs. Gray was about to enter the 


THE WAY SOUGHT. 


67 


room with a cruel whip in her hand. So certain was 
she once of hearing her mother call that she jumped 
to her feet to obey the summons. Then before her 
vision would stand a lovely girl dressed in blue, smil- 
ing down upon her and saying: 

“Jesus paid all the fare long ago.’^ 

Toward morning grandpa grew more quiet. The 
little watcher dropped her head upon his pillow and 
fell asleep, dreaming that mother was holding her in 
her arms, softly singing as of yore. 



VI. 

THE WAY FOUND. 

It was late before they awakened the next morning. 
Rosa, though not much rested herself, was delighted to 
see grandpa apparently so well. She could not remem- 
ber ever before having seen him step so lightly around 
the room. His eyes were shining, and every few min- 
utes he would sing snatches of his one song, while 
assisting her in the preparation of their light break- 
fast. 

“We’re a-goin’ to find it today, Rosa, I’m mighty 
sure, yes, mighty sure of that; and I’m so glad.” 

“I hope so, grandpa dear.” 

“Yes, we are, fer he said so.” 

“Who said so?” 

“Why, Tom. Don’t you remember? We seen him 
last night, Rosa. Surely you ain’t fergot. 

68 


THE WAY FOUND. 


69 


“We wuz a-crossin’ the pretty brook on the bridge 
under the willers, when all to once Tom come a-runnin’ 
up, and wuz so glad to see us. Jest then the bell on the 
little white meetin’ house with the steeple a-p’intin’ 
straight up begun a-ringin', and it sounded better’n 
music. Oh, it wuz so mighty sweet, Rosa! I can 
’most hear it now. And when we got there, the peo- 
ple was a-singin’ about the beautiful land. Every- 
body wuz so happy, ’cause the fare wuz paid and they 
all know’d the way. Tom he says, ‘Don’t be dis’p’inted 
no more, father, ’cause you’re a goin’ to git there, and 
no mistake!’ 

“Now, Rosa dear,” he continued, while walking 
rapidly back and forth across the room, “let’s git 
ready and start right off, and not lose no more time. 

“We’re goin’ to the big meetin’ house today, didn’t 
you say?” 

“Yes, grandpa, the one the p’liceman showed us, you 
know.” 

“ ‘Pears like we’d ought to fix up a little bit then. 
My shoes look most mighty bad, don’t they ? It might 
worry Tom some. I don’t like to have him find out 
how poor I’ve been, but then it won’t make no differ- 
ence after we git there. 

“Say, do you think Sary would miss it, if I’d take 
some of her stove polish and black ’em up a little?” 


70 


the: way found. 


*^Oh, I don’t believe she would.” 

“Then I’ll take jest a tiny bit, not that she’d care, 
fer Sary’s a good woman, yes, a very good woman, but 
mighty partic’lar about her blackin’.” 

Rosa patiently assisted in the process, but it would 
have been difficult for the aesthetic eye to have discov- 
ered the improvement. Grandpa was satisfied, and 
that was enough. 

“I don’t want you to get cold like you did yesterday, 
grandpa. The wind’s blowing hard. Wish you had 
more to put ’round you.” 

“Well, I ain’t got it, dearie, but I don’t mind, fer 
we’re a-goin’ to git there today. Tom’ll look after me 
then.” 

“Here, you take this: it’ll help a little,” and she 
slipped from her own neck a well-worn muffler form- 
erly belonging to her mother. She carefully pinned 
together his thin shabby coat, for the buttons long since 
were gone, and wrapped the muffler about his neck and 
face. 

Her own clothing, since mother moved, had grown 
threadbare and ragged, forming but little protection 
against the cold, cutting winds. 

Their hearts, notwithstanding all outward difficul- 
ties and the disappointments of the preceding day, 
were buoyant with hope as they started out once more 
upon their pilgrimage. 


the: way found. 


71 


Their one friend, the policeman, saw them coming 
and met them a short distance from their destination. 

“Good morning, grandpa and my little lady,” he 
cheerily called, “I have been expecting you for some 
time. I had almost begun to fear that something had 
prevented your coming. Follow me, and I shall see 
that the usher gives you a seat up in front. I know 
you will find the way in here, and I have at last, thank 
God, found it myself !” 

Rosa wondered at this, but could ask no questions. 
They were entering the imposing building now, while 
throngs of well-dressed people, eyeing her curiously, 
were surging by. She was disappointed, for her past 
experience had convinced her that no well-dressed per- 
son but her one girl in blue, knew the way to the 
beautiful land. 

While she was considering the advisability of an 
immediate retreat, the policeman called to an usher: 

“Here, Dawson, are some friends of mine whom I 
want Dr. Fairfax to meet personally. Send a messen- 
ger for him at once. I know he will be willing to 
come ; then give them good seats where they can both 
hear and see. Do just as I say, for these are my very 
special friends,”' he added, as the usher looked at him 
both quizzically and uncertainly. 

“And, Dawson, tell him, too, that I have found the 
way, praise the Lord ! 


72 


the; way found. 


must go now, and God take care of you, Rosa. 
You have taught me what you so want to know your- 
self. The old Book says that a little child shall lead 
them, and it is true.’’ 

The usher hesitated somewhat to break the pastor’s 
quiet half-hour which he had always spent with a few 
faithful workers before going into the pulpit, but see- 
ing the tears beginning to roll down the sweet, sad face 
of the child, he sent the messenger post-haste. 

Very soon a tall, handsome man appeared. 

‘‘Good morning, Mr. Dawson, and what may I do 
for you?” he pleasantly inquired. 

Something about his voice and kindly manner at- 
tracted Rosa immediately, and, characteristically im- 
pulsive, not waiting for Mr. Dawson’s reply she ran 
up to the stranger’s side and said : 

“Oh, please, mister, won’t you tell me how to go? 
The policeman said you could. Grandpa and me want 
to go to the beautiful land, and mother’s gone. Folks 
don’t cough no more there, and Jesus paid all the fare, 
’cause the pretty lady said so, and it don’t cost nothing 
after you get there. Can you tell me the way ?” 

The pastor in his surprise stood motionless for a 
moment, then astonished Mr. Dawson by lifting the lit- 
tle girl up in his arms and kissing her fondly. 

“Rosa,” he said, “you are the straying lamb for 


the: way found. 


73 


whom Esther and I have been praying for weeks, and 
now God has sent you. By His help I shall teach you 
the way this very morning. 

“This is grandpa, is it not?” he added, grasping the 
old man cordially by the hand. “I am indeed very glad 
to see you. 

“Mr. Dawson, you are needed to seat the people. I 
shall escort these to a pew myself.” 

The trio a few minutes later slowly passing down the 
aisle was certainly unusually striking. The pastor, with 
head erect and thoroughly conscious that many were 
displeased, was half supporting upon his strong right 
arm the shabbily-dressed and feeble man, while the 
child in ragged apparel he tenderly led by the hand. 

An observant eye might have noted various expres- 
sions upon the faces in the audience. Some evidently 
were disgusted that their popular pastor would so de- 
mean himself. Others were interested because of the 
oddity of the scene, still others amused, while here and 
there was one conversant with the language of the 
Master and who prayed God’s blessing to abide upon 
all three. 

Belonging to the first-named class was Dr. Dale, 
wealthy, cautiously conservative always, aristocratic, 
exclusive in his circle of friends, and who wished also 
to be exclusive in his church relationship. The knowl- 


74 


THE WAY EOUND. 


edge of his power over the majority of his acquaint- 
ances was a source of constant gratification to the proud 
man, but the fact that his pastor would not bow the 
knee to his wealth and position chafed him sorely. 
The events of this particular Sunday morning he took 
as only another personal insult. 

‘‘Umph !” he grunted in deep displeasure, and 
reached over to pick up his hat preparatory to leaving. 
He could not countenance anything so ridiculously ab- 
surd. If the pastor’s eccentricities continued to de- 
velop as they had in the last year, he would be com- 
pelled to seek another and more congenial church 
home, where form was more in evidence. 

Prim little Mrs. Dale, the one person in the world 
who could influence her austere husband, gently tapped 
him upon the arm and whispered : 

“Stay, my dear, and see what comes of it all. It is 
really quite unusual.” 

“Well,” he thought, “Pll stay to please her, and in 
the meantime take a nap.” 

More to his discomfiture than ever. Dr. Fairfax had 
seated the strange pair directly across the aisle from 
him* in the pew with Esther. 

Glancing over to note the effect upon her, Mr. Dale 
saw that she took the little girl up into her lap, bestow- 
ing upon her fond caresses. He looked long enough 


the; way tound. 


75 


for Rosa’s large brown eyes to meet his own, then with 
a great heart pang turned away. When had he ever 
seen so perfect a likeness to his own Margaret, his only 
and idolized darling, who had left his home the year 
before? Something seemed to be clutching at his 
heart most relentlessly, while a lump was filling his 
throat. Nervously and hastily lest his wife might see, 
he wiped from his brow the gathering perspiration. 
Persistently he endeavored to settle down for the nap, 
but with eyes either closed or open, all he could see was 
the child across the aisle. One moment he wished to 
fold her within his arms so strangely empty for twelve 
long months, and the next mentally upbraided her for 
so cruelly tearing open the one deep wound of his life. 

Presently he became aware that the voluntary had 
ceased, and that a restlessness was sweeping over the 
great audience. Arousing himself somewhat from his 
harrowing reveries, he looked at his watch and found 
that it was ten minutes past the time for the service to 
begin, and Dr. Fairfax had not yet entered the pulpit. 

While the people were wondering what the cause of 
the delay might be, he appeared. 

An unusual note of tenderness in the invocation pre- 
pared the auditors in some degree for what followed. 

^‘Brethren,” he said, “it is recorded in Holy Writ 
that Jesus took a child and set it in the midst of 


76 


THE WAY EOUND. 


them. Just as truly has He set in our midst today a 
child, and for this reason the whole order of service 
shall be changed. God helping me, I shall hide behind 
the cross, that the people may see Jesus only, and I 
shall present the way of salvation so simply that way- 
faring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 

“We are living in a rationalistic age, when by many 
the God of miracles is denied ; when the incarnation of 
the Son of God is considered a fable, having its count- 
erpart in nearly all religions ; when a belief in a literal 
hell and a literal heaven is becoming obsolete; when 
the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ, making it pos- 
sible to escape the one and gain the other, is held as a 
relic of superstition ; when the verbal inspiration of the 
Bible is ridiculed; and when character-building is rap- 
idly superseding the belief in the necessity of the new 
birth. 

'‘Perhaps I have not been sufficiently determined my- 
self to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and 
Him crucified, and have spoken too often upon popular 
themes. Today I shall not speak upon the subject an- 
nounced, ‘Applied Christianity the Remedy for Social 
Evils,’ but,” and he looked down upon Rosa to be sure 
that she understood, “ ‘Heaven, or the Way to the 
Beautiful Land.’ Preparatory to what I may say, I 
shall read the last two chapters of Revelation.” 


the: way IfOUND. 


77 


^‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth : for the 
first heaven and the first earth were passed away ; and 
there was no more sea. 

^'And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, com- 
ing down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride 
adorned for her husband. 

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying. Be- 
hold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will 
dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God 
Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And 
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and 
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor cry- 
ing, neither shall there be any more pain: for the 
former things are passed away. 

\ “And He that sat upon the throne said. Behold, I 
make all things new. And He said unto me. Write: 
for these words are true and faithful. And He said 
unto me. It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the be- 
ginning and the end. I will give unto him that is 
athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He 
that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be 
his God, and he shall be My son. But the fearful, and 
unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and 
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all 
liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth 
with fire and brimstone : which is the second death. 


78 


the; way found. 


“And there came unto me one of the seven angels 
which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, 
and talked with me, saying. Come hither, I will show 
thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 

“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and 
high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy 
Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having 
the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone 
most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal ; 
and a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at 
the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, 
which are the names of the twelve tribes of the chil- 
dren of Israel: on the east three gates; on the north 
three gates ; on the south three gates ; and on the west 
three gates. 

“And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, 
and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the 
Lamb. 

“And he that talked with me had a golden reed to 
measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall 
thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length 
is as large as the breadth * * * * 

“And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: 
and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And 
the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished 
with all manner of precious stones * * * * And the 


THE WAY FOUND. 


79 


twelve gates were twelve pearls ; every several gate 
was of one pearl ; and the street of the city was pure 
gold, as it were transparent glass. 

''And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God 
Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the 
city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to 
shine in it : for the glory of God did lighten it, and the 
Lamb is the light thereof. 

"And the nations of them which are saved shall walk 
in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring 
their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall 
not be shut at all by day : for there shall be no night 
there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the 
nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into 
it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh 
abomination, or maketh a lie : but they which are writ- 
ten in the Lamb’s book of life. 

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, 
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God 
and of the Lamb. 

"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of 
the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve 
manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: 
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the 
nations. 

"And there shall be no more curse : but the throne of 


8o 


THE WAY EOUND. 


God and of the Lamb shall be in it : and His servants 
shall serve Him : and they shall see His face ; and His 
names shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be 
no night there; and they need no candle, neither light 
of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and 
they shall reign for ever and ever ’i' * * * 

‘‘Blessed are they that do His commandments, that 
they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter 
in through the gates into the city.’’ 

This incomparable description of the New Jerusalem, 
read in a finely modulated voice, had a marked effect 
upon the audience, though the reader was conscious of 
the presence of but three, Rosa, grandpa, and the Lord 
Jesus Himself. 

Dr. Dale was more disgusted than ever, or at least 
tried to be. 

“What unreasonable fanaticism !” he thought. 
“When men leave their homes and business to attend 
church, they want something practical, something act- 
ing as a stimulus in daily life. Being surrounded as 
we are on every hand by social evils, strife between 
capital and labor, and with anarchical tendencies be- 
coming constantly more prevalent, we need something 
bearing directly upon these problems. There’ll be 
time enough for these other things. Of course I be- 


THE WAY EOUND. 


8l 


lieve in heaven, for Margaret is there, and when I die 
I want to go to her. 

wish Dr. Fairfax had left these vagrants where 
they belong. The child’s face haunts me. Her eyes 
are almost as starry and full of expression as Mar- 
garet’s. That’s the queerest little old man I ever saw. 
I can’t see how they happen to be here.” 

And so his mind wandered restlessly on during the 
preliminary services. 

'Xet all the people,” announced the speaker, '‘join in 
singing that old hymn which some of us have not heard 
in years, 'The Home of the Soul.’ ” 

The great organ filled the vast auditorium with the 
strains of the melody, followed by a volume of sweetest 
song. Many were carried back to the scenes of their 
childhood, where, gathered around the family altar, 
were the dear ones long since singing in paradise. 

The strangers across the aisle again attracted Dr. 
Dale’s attention. The old man was leaning forward 
with both hands resting upon his cane, his eyes were 
closed, and the tears were slowly trickling down the 
wrinkled face, while with a plaintive, quavery voice he 
was joining in the singing of his well-beloved song. 

At last it was time for the sermon, but the preacher, 
who by his eloquence and magnetic personality could 
6 


82 


THU WAY FOUND. 


sway thousands, felt as helpless as a little child to per- 
form the duty before him. 

He announced his text: “Jesus saith unto him, I am 
the way” (John 14:6). 

The audience wondered why at that particular point 
he stopped apparently to offer a word of silent prayer. 
But then they could not see the expression of hope 
flash across the face of the child, nor the old man lean 
still a little farther forward that he might catch every 
word. 

“Rosa,” whispered grandpa, “didn’t I tell you if we’d 
go to a meetin’ house with the steeple a-p’intin’ straight 
up, we’d find the way? Yes, yes, that’s it, it surely is, 
Rosa, and it’s all a-beginnin’ to come back. Jesus is 
the way, Jesus is the way ! I wonder I ain’t thought of 
it before.” 

The sermon which followed, simple in every detail, 
began by calling attention to the marvelously beautiful 
description of the heavenly land as contained in the 
Scripture previously read. 

“There are representatives here today of many 
classes and conditions of society,” said the speaker, 
“the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the learned 
and the ignorant ; but there is no eye that has not shed 
bitter tears, no life unacquainted with death, sorrow, 
crying, or pain. Thank God for that glad coming day 


THE WAY EOUND. 


83 


when He will wipe away all tears^ when there shall be 
no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor pain; 
for these things shall have passed away !” 

He spoke of the glimpse the Scripture gives of the 
city itself, the New Jerusalem, with its walls and gates. 
“There is no language of earth by which its glories can 
be fully described,” he continued; “where our idea of 
beauty leaves off, there heaven begins ! Even its found- 
ations are made of the rarest jewels we know. 

“But heaven’s happiness consists not in mere out- 
ward things. God is there, and the Lamb ! In God’s 
presence is fulness of joy, and at His right hand are to 
be found the truest pleasures for evermore. There the 
redeemed out of every nation shall serve Him, and they 
shall see His face with no veil of time or sense between. 

“This holy city will never be marred by the entering 
in of anything that defileth, but only those whose names 
are written in the Lamb’s book of life shall behold and 
enjoy its splendor and happiness. 

“I think I hear some poor soul say : ‘Then there is no 
hope for me !’ 

“Yes, there is hope ! 

“ ‘But I have sinned !’ 

“That is true. All have sinned, and come short of 
the glory of God. There is none righteous, no, not 
one. We are by nature and practice strangers to God, 


84 


THE WAY EOUND. 


even the new-born babe having wrapped up within its 
tiny bosom a sinful heritage and bias. And the soul 
that sinneth shall die. But sin can be put away, and 
its dreadful penalty escaped. Shall I not tell you how ? 

^‘It is by the love and grace of our heavenly Bather 
that we can be justified freely through the redemption 
that is in Christ Jesus. God loved us in our sin and 
rebellion, and sent His only-begotten Son to bring 
earth^s inhabitants back to Himself, that they might 
share the joys of the heavenly home. Ere He came to 
earth, an angel of the Lord appeared and said His name 
should be called Jesus, for He should save His people 
from their sins. When at length He was born, the 
angel appeared to the wondering shepherds on the hill- 
side near Bethlehem, and said: ‘Behold, I bring you 
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: 
for unto you is born this day a Saviour.’ He came to 
seek and save the lost. For thirty years He lived a se- 
cluded but holy life at Nazareth. Then for three years 
He went about doing good, working marvelous mir- 
acles and saying wonderful words. At length they 
took Him, and crucified Him on Calvary! ‘Behold,’ 
John had said, ‘the Lamb of God that taketh away the 
sin of the world I’ Do you not see how it is ? Christ 
died — not for His own sins, for He was holy, harmless, 
undefiled, but for your sins and mine. He bore our 


the: way Found. 85 

sins in His body on the cross. Believe on Him, and 
you are saved ! 

“Yes, childlike trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your 
Saviour gives your soul peace with God and makes 
your entrance into the house of many mansions sure! 
He went back to prepare a place for us who believe on 
Him, and promised to come again and receive us unto 
Himself, that where He is, there we may be also. 
Jesus Himself is the way home!” 

So clearly did he explain the plan of salvation that 
Rosa began to grasp the truth. All the pent-up love of 
her ardent nature she began to bestow upon Jesus, and 
in the joy of this new experience forgot her crushing 
sorrow. 

The sermon closed by another extended reference to 
heaven, with special emphasis upon the fact of its being 
real, and not simply a state of blissful being, as many 
profess to believe, and with an appeal to the skeptical 
to take Jesus at His word. 

“He said, T go to prepare a place for you.' Is it not 
His positive statement sufficient ? Has He ever proved 
untrue to His promises concerning this life ? Has He 
ever turned a deaf ear to the penitent sinner’s prayer? 
Has He ever refused to speak the word of comfort to 
the heart breaking beneath its load? Has He ever 
called one to some particular service in His vineyard 


86 


the: way tound. 


without supplying the needed strength? Has He ever 
forgotten to pour forth His abundant and sustaining 
grace upon the trusting soul about the pass through the 
dark, mysterious valley of death? And would He say 
that He was going to prepare a place for us, that where 
He is there we may be also, meaning only that He was 

going to prepare a state of glorified nothingness? 

Impossible ! It is an insult to our Lord. 

^‘He who left the glory-circled throne for thirty-three 
years of wandering in this world, for rejection by those 
whom He came to save, for Gethsemane and for Cal- 
vary, will hold up no false hope to lure onward those 
who love Him. 

^‘He who created this beautiful world, inhabited by 
fallen sinful beings, will not forget to provide a home 
for His own who have washed their robes and made 
them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

“Yes, heaven is a place, where the power of infinity 
itself is exhausted in the beautifying thereof ! No sin, 
no sickness, no sorrow will ever pass through those 
gates of pearl. The saints of all ages are there, our 
loved ones whom we have lost a while are there, and 
above all our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! 

“Ah, if Satan has deluded you into a state of unbe- 
lief now, the time is coming when you will believe! 
Some day with unwilling feet you must part from your 


THE WAY EOUND. 


87 


Lord forever to spend eternity in hell ; or with hosannas 
and shouts of victory upon your lips, you will pass into 
the presence of Him who sits upon the throne, to praise 
Him and serve Him forever and ever!’’ 

At the conclusion of the service. Dr. and Mrs. Dale 
left without waiting to speak to the pastor. 

Mrs. Dale, however, stopped ostensibly to greet 
Esther, but in reality to look more closely at the child 
who had attracted her quite as much as her husband. 

The doctor’s perturbed state did not admit of his 
speaking to any one. He longed for Margaret, and 
both loved and hated the little waif who unconsciously 
had so remarkably altered the affairs of the whole 
morning. He had endeavored not to listen to the ser- 
mon, “fit only for children, and not for men possessed 
of a logical turn of mind,” he said to himself ; but the 
more he tried, with the greater persistency did the ring- 
ing sentences surge through his aching brain. 

“Well 1” he exclaimed to his wife as soon as they 
were seated in their carriage, “Dr. Fairfax is a narrow- 
minded extremist, a fanatic. What right had he to 
bring those street wanderers into the church this morn- 
ing ? The place for them is down at the mission. Do 
I not give liberally toward its support? To be sure, 
such as they need the Gospel, but I want them to stay 
where they belong to get it.” 


88 


THE WAY TOUND. 


'‘But, my dear,’" placidly remonstrated his wife, 
“there may be qualifying circumstances connected with 
all this which we do not understand.” 

“Possibly, but scarcely probable anything to warrant 
such an unheard-of innovation ! The place for them is 
down at the mission, I say. 

“And that sermon, if such it may be called ! I 
thought I was at a funeral. There were hundreds of 
men there, who like myself went for something helpful 
and practical. Who cares to discuss the heavenly city 
when our city down here is in the throes of a strike, 
threatening to paralyze business for weeks and months 
to come, and meaning the loss of millions of dollars, 
both directly and indirectly?” 

“I know, dear, but the Father’s omnipotent hand of 
love will bring everything out right some day. He has 
promised, and His promises never fail. Is it not rest- 
ful, and does it not make one more brave for the con- 
flict, to know that there is an abiding city, at whose 
portals we leave earth’s sorrows and perplexities ?” 

“Yes, wife, I know, but we are living now upon this 
mundane sphere, and naturally our interests center here. 
A belief in heaven does not straighten out affairs on 
earth, nor make the burdens any the lighter to bear.” 

“I do not know about that, since Margaret has gone. 
If I did not believe what Dr. Fairfax said this morn- 


the; way found. 


89 


ing, my burden, at least, would be much heavier and 
harder to bear. It does help to know that she is safe, 
and that I shall join her myself some day.” 

“Oh, well, yes, of course but then it’s different when 
it comes to Margaret !” 

For several minutes they rode in silence, when the 
doctor said: 

“Wife, did you see that child’s eyes ?” 

“Yes, I saw them.” 

“I wish well, we are home now ! Let me assist 

you from the carriage.” 

In the meantime, grandpa and Rosa were having an 
experience very novel to them. 

Upon discovering grandpa’s weak condition, a car- 
riage had been ordered, the first one in which they had 
ever ridden. Esther was quietly explaining to Rosa 
more of Jesus and His love for the children, while her 
receptive little soul was eagerly taking it all in. 

“Then,” she said, “I can’t go to the beautiful land 
till He sends for me ! I do wish He would send soon.” 

“No, but He surely will send some day, Rosa, and 
perhaps He wants you to teach others how to get 
there.” 

“If He does, then I’m willing to stay, ’cause so many 
don’t know.” 

In her broken childish way, Rosa told of the many 


90 


THE WAY EOUND. 


and varied experiences befalling her and grandpa since 
mother moved. 

Esther* and her father were greatly touched by the 
pathos of the narrative, but what left the deepest im- 
pression was that in her eager quest she could find no 
one for so long to help her. 

There in the privacy of their carriage they gave 
themselves anew to the work of the Lord, pledging 
never again to let a known opportunity to speak to a 
needy soul pass by. 

Grandpa, like a tired child, was resting his head 
upon the shoulder of his new friend during the drive, 
and it was evident that he was very ill. The fever was 
returning, the mind partially wandering, but the soul 
rejoicing in the light of that land which he so soon was 
to enter. 

^‘Ah, Rosa,” he murmured over and over, “I told you 
so. Jesus is the way, Jesus is the way ! Fm mighty 
glad it’s all come back, but Tom he said ’twould, and I 
think he’ a-comin’ now to git me.” 

Upon their arrival home, with tender hands the 
weary old man was put to bed, while Esther took charge 
of Rosa, clothing her in more suitable garments, and 
talking simply of the Shepherd who seeks the wander- 
ing lambs. 



VII. 

VICTORY! 

The deserted rooms on Burton street suddenly be- 
came the scene of great activity early Monday after- 
noon. 

Mrs. Gray’s supersensitive conscience would not ad- 
mit of her neglecting her charges, so in consequence her 
visit was made a few hours shorter than first planned. 

The fire was out, and no trace could she find of Rosa 
and grandpa. She '^hollered till her throat was 
sore,” looked in every reasonable — and unreasonable — 
corner, searched up and down the hall, inquired of her 
neighbors, visited the corner grocery, but all to no avail. 

“Land sakes I” over and over she repeated to a group 
of interested spectators, “I might a-know’d better’n to 
have gone ofif and left them. This is jest my luck, 


91 




92 


VICTORY ! 


anyhow. The first time IVe been away in five years, 
then have this happen. Fm jest real provoked, and I 
don’t think a body could blame me, either. But it all 
comes of me bein’ so obligin’. If it wuzn’t fer my ten- 
der heart. I’d never kep’ Tom’s father, nor took Mis’ 
Browning’s young one, then I could come and go as I 
pleased and not be pestered this way. There ain’t 
many that’d do fer others what I do, and I never git no 
thanks fer it, neither. If I hadn’t had father to board 
all these years, I might have somethin’ laid up fer a 
rainy day, and there ain’t nobody but what’ll say I’m 
industrious and savin’. 

“But I can’t think where they’d go, nor what I can 
do. It seems like somebody ’d seen them. I’ll fix them 
when they git back, so as they’ll never do it ag’in. It 
looks like they’d been gone fer some time, and I do 
b’lieve they’ve been into the tea and stove blackin’. I 
never thought about blackin’, who would? but I told 
them not to touch that tea, fer I couldn’t afford it. 
They’ll be sorry, they will, when I git hold of them. 

“Here you, Billy Bruce!” she vociferously called, 
catching sight of that youth running down the stairs 
three steps at a time ; “come right back here at fast as 
you can, and tell me what you know about Rosa and 
grandpa. You’re always under foot a-knowin’ what’s 
a-goin’ on, so I ’spose if anybody seen them you did.” 


VICTORY ! 


93 


Billy feared Mrs. Gray more than he did the judge or 
policeman — that is, at close range ; but when occupying 
the vantage-ground, as at the present, he delighted in 
revolt. 

“I didn’t either see them,” he shouted back, ''and 
don’t know nothin’ about them, only I’d run oif, too, if 
I wuz them.” 

At this the greatly abused and misunderstood woman 
picked up a piece of coal to hurl at the rapidly retreat- 
ing young rebel, when, to her astonishment, she saw 
coming up the steps the transformed Rosa with Esther ! 

"You’d better look out, Rosa,” confidently explained 
Billy, "she’s awful mad, and you may gif that lickin’ 
yet, you said she’d been a-promisin’.” 

Rosa shrank in terror, her face growing pale and 
twitching nervously, while an inclination to run away 
with her barbarous but devoted champion took posses- 
sion of her. 

"Never mind, dear,” whispered Esther reassuringly, 
"she will do you no harm while I am with you. You 
need not be at all afraid.” 

Upon looking into the fearless blue eyes of Esther, 
Mrs. Gray suddenly determined to change her plan of 
attack. 

"Land sakes, Rosa ! I’ve been that worried about you 
and father, the dear old soul, — where is he ? and where 


94 


VICTORY ! 


have you been, and where did you git them pretty 
clothes ? Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to go on 
a visit, and what made you stay so long? Of course it 
wuz awful lonesome here without me, so I won’t blame 
you much, but children’d ought to tell.” 

Not giving the child an opportunity to answer, a vol- 
ley of interrogations and information was turned upon 
Esther. 

'‘What’s your name? Esther Fairfax, is it? well, 
now that’s a real pretty name, but do come right in and 
set down. Things is in a muss, fer I’ve been gone, and 
children don’t amount to much fer work, ’specially when 
they ain’t been raised right. I ain’t had her long, you 
know, or she’d be different. Her ma wuz awful queer 
and silly about her. But where did you find her ? You 
wuz real thoughtful to bring her back to me, so as I 
wouldn’t worry any longer’n necessary. I ’spose you 
found her clothes in bad shape. Her ma’s been dead 
now a while, and didn’t keep things up as well as she 
might anyhow, I thought, fer some time. She wuz 
one of them women that gives up easy, but that’s some- 
thin’ I never do. I’ve been a-layin’ out to show Rosa 
how to sew. She’s plenty old enough, and I ain’t got 
no time to do it myself. But then I never did b’lieve 
in bringin’ them up lazy. There’s a lot in gittin’ them 
started right. 


VICTORY ! 


95 


‘‘And where on earth’s the old man? I can’t think 
how you found them. Seems like a month since I seen 
him, but then I have more attachment and affection 
than most folks, or I wouldn’t a been so flustered. I 
hope he’s acted with some sense, so as I won’t have to 
be mortified.” 

Endeavoring to impress her guest favorably, Mrs. 
Gray, while talking, was energetically moving about the 
room, making some pretense toward bringing order out 
of confusion. 

“That grease spot down there on the floor by the 
stove does really worry me a heap, and I’d really ought 


At this Rosa cast a glance at the whip still reposing 
above the door, and tightened her clasp upon Esther’s 
hand. 

“Father’s awful childish, and I have to treat him jest 
like a child, too, or I couldn’t git on with him no how. 
I’ve kep’ him now, well, let me see : it’s a-goin’ on six 
years since Tom got killed, and I’ve been a-supportin’ 
him ever since, and no tellin’ how much longer he’ll 
live. If it wuzn’t fer my kind heart. I’d tell him he’d 
have to leave. I’ve thought of it some lately, but then 
s’pose I never will. Then when Mis’ Browning died, 
of course she wanted me to raise Rosa. It’s a good 
thing she did die, fer now Rosa’ll learn to do somethin’ 


96 


VICTORY ! 


more’n jest to be kissed and cried over. I used to git 
that provoked at her ma fer actin’ so silly. I didn’t 
say she could stay here only till spring. Of course she 
come in real handy like when father didn’t mind and I 
twisted my ankle, but then it’s sech a bother to raise a 
child. When she ain’t no more use to me, I don’t know 
how it’ll be then.” 

During this recital, Esther’s face was a study. She 
had visited much among the poor with her father, but 
never before had she come into contact with quite so 
unusual a character as Mrs. Gray. Eindihg that her 
only opportunity to state her errand was to interrupt 
the loquacious speaker, she determined to wait no 
longer. 

“Mrs. Gray, I have come to tell you that you will 
never again be troubled by grandpa or Rosa. Grand- 
pa is in my home, and the physician says that he can 
live but a few hours longer. He has had a raging 
fever, but that has left now ; he is entirely rational and 
wishes to see you before the Master calls. 

“My carriage is waiting. There is no time to lose. 
Put on your warps and come immediately.” 

So surprised was Mrs. Gray that for the instant an 
almost unprecedented thing occurred: she could think 
of nothing to say. But endeavoring to gain her nor- 
mal poise, she turned upon Rosa. 


VICTORY ! 


97 


“Well, you heard what the lady said! Father, the 
dear old soul, of course he wants to see me before he 
dies, after all Fve done fer him; but how lonely it’ll 
be without him! Seems like I can see him a-settin’ 
over there in his chair now, a-lookin’ out of the win- 
der, like he did ’most all day sometimes.” 

At this appropriate juncture, she made a fruitless 
effort to shed a few tears, but, to be charitable, the 
deepest sorrow cannot find expression in tears. 

“You can stay here, Rosa, and have supper ready 
when I git back, and make me some tea ; I’ll need it to 
settle my nerves. Take them fine clothes off, too, be- 
fore you spoil ’em. I want you to learn to be savin’, 
like I’ve always been. And give that grease spot an- 
other scrubbin’, and go to the corner grocery and 
git ” 

“No, Mrs. Gray,” vehemently interposed Esther, 
“did I not tell you that Rosa is never going to live 
with you again ? You are about to realize your dream 
of liberty, for which without a doubt you are duly 
grateful. You seem to feel that both grandpa and 
Rosa have been intolerable burdens.” 

Esther was the repetition of her father, and when 
the case demanded could be firm and commandingly 
dignified. 

Again Mrs. Gray was speechless. For so long she 
7 


98 


VICTORY ! 


had been absolute monarch in her small realm, with 
none daring to question or to rise in rebellion, that it 
was a revelation to find in a young woman like Esther 
an opposite and stronger force with which to reckon. 

For the first time in her life she was completely 
conquered, and without another word marched sol- 
emnly down to the carriage. 

''This is an opportunity,” thought Esther, "and may 
I be directed in all I say.” 

Not wishing this woman possessed of a hard heart 
and a shriveled soul to stand in awe of her any longer, 
a few kind and ordinary remarks soon accomplished 
the desired end. 

"Well, Miss Esther, you ain’t told me how it’s all 
come about. I can’t fer the life of me think, and it 
all seems so strange. I jest can’t git it through my 
head that father’s a-goin’ to die. Are you real sure 
of it ? Mebbe there’s a mistake.” 

"No, Mrs. Gray, there is no mistake. In a few 
hours he will be safe forever in the better land.” 

Esther’s power of narration was well developed. 
Going into the minute details, she simply told the 
whole story, while Mrs. Gray attentively listened with- 
out an interruption. There were indications that the 
hitherto impregnable fortress of this untutored wom- 
an’s heart was beginning to totter. But is there after 


VICTORY ! 


99 


all in this great world a heart so loveless, so blackened 
by sin, or so narrowed by its own selfish domain, as to 
be entirely invincible? Cannot the love emanating 
from Christ Himself, flowing through the channel of a 
surrendered life, leave its impress where all else fails ? 

Esther’s observant eye noted the change, then skil- 
fully she began speaking of the Lord as a personal 
Saviour. 

Presently tears began rolling down the hardened 
cheeks, causing the young messenger to feel that vic- 
tory was almost certain. 

Upon reaching the Fairfax home, Mrs. Gray was 
ushered into a room, which to her seemed magnificent. 

Grandpa was lying upon an immaculate bed, while 
everything surrounding him was far more indicative 
of loving thoughtfulness than of luxury. In his hand 
he clasped a beautiful rose, because during his rational 
moments he so often spoke of the ‘^pretty roses a- 
growin’ by the brook down in the lane.” The rose was 
presented by none other than Dr. Dale, not — so he as- 
sured himself — that he was in the least sympathetic 
with the Fairfaxes in their eccentric freak. It was 
simply for the good of the patient that all small whims 
be humored. 

Upon a nearby table was Esther’s violin. During 
the long hours of the preceding night, when the burn- 


100 


VICTORY ! 


ing fever produced a great restlessness in the weary 
sufferer, nothing soothed him but the low, sweet strains 
of music. 

Now he was calm, and for the first time since Tom 
died clothed in his right mind. 

'‘Sary, how be you?” he feebly asked, as she slowly 
walked up to his side. “Fm so glad you’ve come, fer 
it’s all straightened out now, and I want to thank you 
afore I go fer all you’ve done fer me. And may some- 
body take care of you real kind when you git old and 
can’t work no more. I’ve been a big bother, Sary. 
You’ve had a good deal to put up with since Tom died, 
but you’ve been mighty kind. You’ve always give me 
enough to eat, and kep’ me warm, and you’ve had to 
work awful hard to do it. I thank you, Sary, and may 
God bless you! But I do want you to find Jesus, the 
way to the beautiful land. You won’t have it so hard 
there. He’s paid for everything, and it’s free fer the 
askin’.” 

‘‘Oh, father,” she said, dropping upon her knees and 
weeping bitterly for the first time in many years, “you 
ain’t got nothin’ to thank me fer. I’ve never seen till 
jest this minute how awful mean I’ve been. You did 
your very best to please me, and the harder you tried, 
the more I scolded. I wish I’d been better to you. 
No, you ain’t got nothin’ at'all to thank me fer, and I’ll 


VICTORY ! 


lOI 


miss you so ! I don’t know why Fve never seen it be- 
fore, and you’ve always been so good. I’ll never git 
over feelin’ mean about it, no, I never will, oh dear, 
dear !” 

“There, there, Sary, don’t cry ! It’s all right now.” 

Tenderly he stroked the hand which many times had 
been raised threateningly against him, and tried to 
soothe the thoroughly conscience-striken woman. 

“Sary, I do want you to find Jesus. It’s so mighty 
sweet to know Him, and He’ll help you over all the 
hard places, — He says He will ; and He always carries 
the heavy end of the load, too.” 

“I’m too wicked and mean, father. He wouldn’t 
have me,” she sobbed, “but I wish He would; I need 
Him bad, and want help.” 

“Mrs. Gray,” — it was the minister who spoke and 
who had been a silent witness of the pathetic scene, — 
“Jesus died to save you.” 

“I wish I knew it,” she moaned, “but I’m too mean. 
I’m the biggest sinner in the world to treat father and 
Rosa the way I have.” 

“If you are the biggest sinner in the world, then I 
know that Jesus died to save you. Listen to His 
word : ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all ac- 
ceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to 
save sinners; of whom I am chief.’ You consider 
yourself the chief of sinners, do you?” 


102 


VICTORY ! 


‘‘Yes, I do; T know I am/' 

“Who came to save the chief of sinners?” 

“Why, the verse says Christ Jesus did.” 

“Yes, Mrs. Gray, that is true. Then whom did 
Jesus Christ come to save?” 

“Oh, He came to save me. He came to save me! 
How could He ever do it?” 

“Just because God so loved the world, that He gave 
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Do 
you believe it?” 

“Yes, how can I help it, when He done all that?” 

“Then if you believe in Him, what have you ?” 

“Everlasting life ! Everlasting life !” Dreamily, 
yet joyously, she repeated the words many times, try- 
ing to comprehend their fathomless depths. 

“But,” she anxiously asked, “what about my sins? 
You don’t know how mean I’ve been.” 

“ ‘And their sins and iniquities will I remember no 
more.’ ” 

“Oh, thank God, thank God! He’s give me ever- 
lasting life, and won’t remember my sins. I want to 
begin all over now, and do somethin’ fer Him before I 
die.” 

In broken petitions she poured forth her heart in 
prayer to God, while at the same moment angelic songs 


VICTORY ! 


103 


were started anew around the throne above. Another 
soul was born again. 

Is there less rejoicing over there when the soul saved 
chances to be the tenant of a roughly-hewn temple? 
Ah no, for it required the shedding of just the same 
precious blood as for the souls of earth’s greatest and 
noblest ! 

An expression of unspeakable peace lighted up 
grandpa’s happy face, as he murmured : 

“Oh, Sary, I’m so glad, so mighty glad! Now I’ll 
tell Tom you’re a-comin’, and we’ll both be a-watchin’ 
fer you. Won’t we be happy when we all git safe 
home? Goodby, Sary! You’ve always been a good 
woman, yes, a very good woman, and now Jesus will 
take care of you. Goodby, till we meet ag’in !” 

The effort of speaking seemed to exhaust him per- 
ceptably, and he sank off into a deep sleep. 

It was evident that the end was near, and hastily Dr. 
Dale was summoned. Upon examining his patient, he 
found that in a few minutes, or perhaps a half an hour 
at the most, all would be over. 

Silently they watched him. Rosa understood better 
now than she did a few weeks before what the “mov- 
ing” meant. She knew that she would be lonely with- 
out grandpa, her one comforter through many a dark 
and dreary hour, and the tears began to gather. 


104 


VICTORY ! 


At this Dr. Dale became restless. Just to avoid a 
scene, he took the little girl up into his arms, wiping 
away the tears and whispering words of comfort. 

Mrs. Gray sat nearest the dying man, gently 
smoothing back the snowy locks from his forehead. 
His breath was growing shorter and shorter, but there 
was no struggle. Suddenly his eyes opened, and with 
a smile of recognition he greeted each one. 

'‘Oh,’’ he faintly whispered, "Jesus is the way, Jesus 
is the way ! Sing to me my song, won’t you, please ?” 

With difficulty Esther and her father complied with 
the request, while the doctor walked nervously up and 
down the room with Rosa still in his arms. 

“Oh, how sweet it will be in that beautiful land. 

So free from all sorrow and pain, 

With songs on our lips and with harps in our hands. 

To meet one another again!” 

As the words of the last verse died away, the soul 
took its flight to rejoice forever in the presence of the 
King. 

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is 
thy victory? Thanks be to God which giveth us the 
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 



VIIL 

DUST TO DUST. ' 

The events of Sunday morning had occasioned much 
comment upon the part of Dr. Fairfax’s parishioners. 

The majority, after taking time for consideration, 
approved, and became intensely interested to know the 
outcome of the strange proceeding. During the few 
hours of grandpa’s illness many messengers called to 
learn the latest news, and it cheered the pastor’s heart 
to find that after all he was far from being alone in his 
love for God’s neglected poor. 

He had planned a quiet funeral, and was arranging 
to that effect when requests from all sides began pour- 
ing in that it might be held in the church. 

‘Tt is a signal opportunity, father,” Esther had said 
when consulted, so a public funeral was soon an- 

105 


io6 


DUST TO DUST. 


nounced together with another innovation. Instead of 
the customary floral offerings, it was suggested that the 
people bring gifts of money to place upon the casket, 
to be used in the forwarding of city mission work. 

At the hour appointed, the small procession wended 
its way to the church. 

Dr. Dale had found it advisable for himself and wife 
to join the funeral party. It was natural that Esther 
should look after Mrs. Gray, who never before had 
been in so fine a building, and it would be awkward for 
her to have charge of Rosa as well. Then really the 
child was very nervous and might suddenly need pro- 
fessional attention. All things considered, there was 
no alternative : he must keep her with him. 

Both curiosity and genuine interest attracted a great 
crowd, causing the pastor once more to feel his need of 
hiding behind the cross, that the people might behold 
Jesus only. 

In all his wide and varied experience, this funeral 
pre-eminently was the most unique. Conventionality 
was laid aside. There was no sermon, but the story of 
the last few days of the victor’s life was told so graphi- 
ically that the audience was held in almost breathless 
silence. 

‘"Brethren,” said the speaker in closing, “how must 
we appear in the sight of God, who loved us to the ex- 


DUST TO DUST. 


107 


tent of giving His only Son to die for our sins, when 
it is possible for one to live long, weary years in our 
midst with none to tell him of Jesus? Can we expect 
ever to hear from His lips the welcome plaudit, 'Well 
done !’ when we are no more zealous than this for the 
souls whom He came to save? 

“I fear that many who profess to love Him will fall 
far short of the 'abundant entrance,’ and will stand 
ashamed before Him at His appearing. 

"Can it be true that we are selfish to the extent of 
being satisfied simply with our own salvation, when 
His heart of infinite love and compassion is yearning 
with unfathomable tenderness over the lost? 

"We have the opportunity now which angels may 
well covet, that of leading souls to Christ. This price- 
less privilege is intrusted to us only for the one brief 
moment of our earthly existence, and how we should 
prize it above all things else! 

"Consider the fact that one million of years hence, 
yea, millions of millions of years, your happiness and 
capacity for enjoying Christ and heaven depend upon 
the manner of your spending this present vapor called 
life. When eventually we are ushered through the 
gates of the Eternal City, it will then be forever too 
late for this one blood-purchased pleasure of telling 
salvation’s story to the lost. 


io8 


DUST TO dust. 


“It seems a paradox that it is possible for one to be a 
Christian without having a consuming passion for 
souls. But in reality the whole matter centers not 
upon our love for those around us, but upon our love 
for the Lord Jesus Himself. When we are in un- 
broken fellowship with Christ, the natural result is love 
for those so dear to Him. The love of Jesus is not an 
absorbing, but a radiating love. The more we love 
Him, the more shall we most certainly love others. 
Each new revelation of Himself graciously granted 
unto His followers only draws us the nearer to Him, 
the fountain of eternal love, where we drink to our fill 
and are imbued with an all-consuming desire to carry 
the life-giving water unto others. 

“Nor can we gaze long at the cross, at the cruelly 
mutilated brow of our Saviour, at His body torn and 
bruised by the merciless scourging, at the five bleeding 
wounds, nor can we listen to the cry of His broken 
heart, ^My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken 
Me?’ without being melted with love and filled with a 
holy zeal to serve Him every moment of our lives. 
One real view of the cross changes all. The things 
of this life, where we shall be located and how we shall 
be situated, will have no more effect upon us, if only 
we may glorify Him. 

“Many have taken the first step, giving into His 


DUST TO DUST. 


109 


keeping their souls for eternity, but will you not now, 
while beholding Him hanging on yonder cross for you, 
give Him your lives as well ? The only life worth the 
living is the surrendered life. Time is uncertain, 
eternity sure. Now and only now may we prove to 
Him our love, and know the fellowship of His suffer- 
ings. 

“I ask every Christian here today, who is willing 
henceforth to yield his life, his time, his all, uncondi- 
tionally into the hands of the Master and to go forth 
seeking those who need help, to arise.” 

The speaker, though pale from emotion, calmly 
folded his arms and looked over the audience to see 
what the result might be. 

He knew that the crisis in the life of his church had 
arrived, and should the King have the victory, or no? 

For a moment there was not a stir. Then the 
preacher himself could scarcely believe what he saw. 

Dr. Dale, still holding Rosa in his arms, slowly arose, 
love and determination being depicted upon the hith- 
erto cold and dignified countenance. The effect was 
pronounced. Soon hundreds were upon their feet, 
while some one started the song: 

“I gave My life for thee, 

My precious blood I shed 
That thou might’st ransomed be. 


no 


DUST TO DUST. 


And quickened from the dead; 

I gave My life for thee: 

What hast thou done for Me? 

‘‘My Father’s house of light. 

My glory-circled throne, 

I left for earthly night. 

For wanderings sad and lone; 

I left it all for thee : 

Hast thou left aught for Me? 

“I suffered much for thee, 

More than thy tongue can tell. 

Of bitterest agony, 

To rescue thee from hell; 

I’ve borne it all for thee : 

What hast thou borne for Me? 

“And I have brought to thee, 

Down from my home above, 

Salvation full and free, 

My pardon and My love; 

I bring rich gifts to thee : 

What hast thou brought to Me?” 

At the conclusion of the song the pastor led in a 
consecration prayer, knowing that in many the bonds 
of worldliness were forever snapped asunder, and that 
henceforth the victorious, overcoming life would be 
theirs, making themselves heirs of the promise: “To 
him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My 


DUST TO DUST. 


Ill 


throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with 
My Father in His throne.’" 

After a few moments of silence, the quartette softly 
sang “The Home of the Soul,” while a vast procession 
slowly marched before the casket, placing upon it gifts 
of silver, gold and bank notes all in one great heap. 

At last all that was earthly of him whose simple life 
and final victory had proven so powerful a sermon, 
was tenderly carried out and laid to rest in a beautiful 
lot purchased by Dr. Dale, while the setting sun was 
painting the western sky with almost heavenly glory. 

“God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to 
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak 
things of the world to confound the things which are 
mighty.” 



IX. 


little child shall lead them.^^ 

The day was over. 

Esther and her father, possessed of a calm, holy joy 
deeper than ever before, were seated in his study, 
while with them were Dr. and Mrs. Dale, Rosa and 
Mrs. Gray. 

Esther had been undergoing a struggle, for it would 
be hard to give Rosa up. She had planned to keep 
her as her own little sister, to educate her, to train her 
in things both temporal and spiritual, and to guard her 
till she should develop into a pure, strong, noble 
woman. 

Now she felt that it must be otherwise, for evidently 
God had so determined. Knowing that His will al- 
ways would be her deliberate choice, could she see the 


II2 


‘'a UTTI.E CHIIvD SHAI.I:, I,e:AD THEM.’" II3 

end from the beginning as He can, she was growing 
positively happy at this unexpected turn of events. It 
was a part of her religion not to be simply passively 
submissive to His will, but in it always to rejoice. 
The psalmist’s declaration, 'T delight to do Thy will, 
O my God,” was the expression of her heart’s desire. 

Mrs. Dale, though with an eye upon the child, was 
quietly talking to Mrs. Gray of the privileges and du- 
ties befalling the Christian. 

Dr. Dale was clasping Rosa closely to his breast, 
while now and then a tear dropped upon her curly 
head. 

'‘Pastor,” he said after a long interval of silence, 
“the battle has raged fiercely since Sunday morning, 
but thanks be to God, He has given me the strength 
with which to gain the victory. 

“You know how selfish I have been, how taken up 
with the affairs of this world and the amassing of 
riches. For many years I have had no vital interest in 
other things. I have prided myself upon my upright- 
ness and morality, considering that I was a worthy ex- 
ample for any to follow, and a decidedly successful 
man. Now the fallacy of my position I see, and realize 
that the best part of my life has been wasted — more 
than wasted! 

“When you walked down the aisle with Rosa and 
8 


1 14 ‘'a UTTIv^ child shall lead them.” 

grandpa, Satan made upon me a relentless onslaught. 
It seemed that there were two mighty and opposing 
forces within, each struggling for the supremacy. I 
did not yield entirely to the right till this afternoon, 
for I have gloried in my reputation of being influenced 
by no one. 

“For years I have not been satisfied, knowing myself 
to be slipping farther and farther away from God. I 
have longed for the joy of my first love, but He could 
not take me back with my hands so tenaciously holding 
to the things of this world. 

“Today the tempter told me that there would be no 
use in my surrendering, for I would not prove true, 
and anyhow that it was only a matter of excitement and 
not of firm conviction. I fully realize that I have no 
power in myself, and that the first moment I look away 
from Christ I shall fall. I am resting on the promise 
that He is able to keep me from falling and to present 
me faultless before the presence of His glory with ex- 
ceeding joy. 

“Your message Sunday and your message today 
burned deeply into my soul, but it is this little girl 
whom God was pleased to use in the breaking of my 
stony, icy heart. I wish to take her as my own daugh- 
ter, knowing that she will lead me still closer to the 
Lord she loves so well. 


‘'a UTTI.E: CHII.D SHAI.Iv I^EAD THEM.” II5 

^^Rosa,” he asked tenderly, ^‘are you willing to be my 
little girl instead of my Margaret whom God has taken 
to Himself?” 

For her answer she slipped her arms about his neck 
and kissed him, while Mrs. Dale smiled through her 
tears upon the happy pair. 

“My brother, may God bless you and keep you,” 
fervently responded the pastor, “leading you from vic- 
tory up into victory. 

“You are not the only one to be filled with gratitude 
for having been brought under the influence of this 
child. I too view life differently, seeing more clearly 
than ever the duty, nay, privilege of personal soul-sav- 
ing work for the Master. Rosa’s quest has brought 
me face to face with the insignificance of this world, 
and the realities of the next. Her attitude is only what 
that of every true follower of God should be. Our 
citizenship is in heaven ; from whence also we look for 
the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we could only 
remember our position in Him, the surrendered life 
would be the natural outcome, and, like Rosa, our faces 
continually would be turned toward the beautiful land. 

“This is only another verification of the fact that a 
little child shall lead them. 

“Yes, it means a rich and new blessing to me !” 

“And to me, too,” softly sobbed Mrs. Gray, “fer it’s 


Il6 ''a UmE CHIIvD SHALI, I^EAD THEM.’’ 

all come through her, the sweet lamb, and Fve been 
a-threat’nin’ to lick her. She was that patient when 
my ankle was twisted, that I’ll never fergit it, no never ! 
I can see now how she’d shake of fear when she’d come 
up to me, then run to poor old father fer a bit of com- 
fort. I didn’t know it then, but do now, that she was 
’most a-starvin’ fer the kind of love she didn’t git. 
How she must have missed her ma ! Oh, I’ve been so 
awful mean! I don’t see how God can fergive me, 
but I know He has. I never knew’d before that the 
Saviour is fer sech as me. Tom used to try to tell me, 
and I wouldn’t let him. He wuz good, and I wuzn’t. 
And dear old father ! How happy he and Tom must 
be tonight, but it’ll be dreadfully lonesome with them 
all gone. I wish I could have Rosa back ag’in, though 
I’m awful glad she’s to have sech a good home. And 
I made sech a fuss about a-keepin’ her till spring. If 
it hadn’t been fer her, I don’t know how I’d ever got 
along when I couldn’t walk. But God has fergive me 
now, and I feel like another woman.” 

‘T’ll go back with you. Mis’ Gray,” faltered Rosa, 
*'if you want me to.” 

'‘No, my child, you promised to stay with me,” in- 
terrupted the doctor, “but you may visit Mrs. Gray 
every week, and I shall see that she never wants for 
anything again.” 



Dr. Dale and Rosa, 





4 






ww • 

^ d 


I 


9 


*■ 



I 



I 







''a umn; CHII.D sHAi,!, i^DAD the:m.” 1 19 

''Ain’t He a wonderful Saviour?” said Mrs. Gray, 
brightening up. "I can’t see how ’tis, but I love them 
all over there on Burton street now, and I used to be 
that ugly they’re all afraid of me, I know. Seems like I 
can hardly wait till mornin’. I’m that anxious to git 
back to tell them all about it. They’re all so poor, and 
have sech heavy loads. They need Him bad to help 
them, but they don’t know He’s promised to. And 
Billy Bruce, the poor laddie, I want to tell him how 
sorry I am fer a-tryin’ to throw that piece of coal at 
him. His ma’s drunk most of the time, and so’s his 
pa. He used to come to me fer somethin’ to eat, and I 
wouldn’t give him a thing, but jest scold him and tell 
him to git out of the way, fer I didn’t feed beggars. 
He ain’t never had no chance yet, and I’m jest a-goin’ 
to see what I can do fer him. He’s got a good heart, 
and once he told me I’d never lick Rosa if he wuz only 
a little bigger. He’ll run when he see me a-comin’, 
but I’ll put some peppermints in my pocket, and mebbe 
they’d help catch him.” 

“Oh, Mrs. Gray,” said Esther, “I am so glad that 
you are going to help Billy. I saw him the other day, 
and feel sure that you can bring him around all right. 
I shall come over often to assist you, and I know that 
many will find the same dear Friend in whom you are 
rejoicing tonight. 


120 ‘‘a little; child shall le;ad the;m/’ 

“How wonderfully has the Lord’s hand been guid- 
ing since first I saw Rosa that cold December day ; and 
the end is not yet !” 

For several minutes the little company sat in silence, 
each one buried in thoughts too deep and sacred to 
find expression in words. 

Presently Rosa lifted her head from the doctor’s 
shoulder, her lustrous eyes becoming more luminous 
than ever, as she said: 

“Oh, how glad I am that I have found the way to the 
beautiful land! Mother’s there, and don’t cough no 
more. Grandpa’s there, and we’re all going some day, 
’cause Jesus paid the fare a long time ago!” 


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the present. A great mass of information, historical and otherwise, is 
condensed with surprising skill within the covers of a small volume. 


With Tommy Tompkins in Korea 

Illustrated,i2mo,Cloth,netfi.25. L. H. UNDERWOOD, H.D. 

A vivid story of life in Korea. Native life Is most graphically and 
humorously presented in connection with the experiences of this 
American family. Entertainment and accurate information about 
things Korean are here admirably blended. 


Home Mission Reading's 

i2mo, Cloth, net, soc.. Paper, net, 25c. ALICE M. GUERNSEY 

A collection of stories and sketches dealing with various phases of 
Home Mission work, and especially designed for use in missionary 
meetings. Women’s auxiliary societies, and Young People’s societies 
will find it of value in making out their programes. A bright story 
will catch and hold the attention better than a prosy speech. 


Indian and Spanish Neig^hbors 

Interdenominational Home Mission Study Course. 

lamo. Cloth, net 50c., Paper, net 30c JULIA H. JOHNSTON 
The Third volume in the series begun in Under Our Flag. In- 
tended for use as a text book in all Women’s Home Mission Societies. 
Covers the needs, and opportunity for work, among the Indians and 
Spanish speaking people in our Western states, in Cuba and Porto Rico. 


The Burden of the City 3rd Edition. 

i6mo. Cloth, net 50c. ; paper, net 30c. ISABELLE HORTON 

A study of Home Mission work as applied to our large cities, by a 
deaconess of wide experience. Especially designed for use by Mis- 
sion Study Classes whether young or old. 


Our People of Foreig(n Speech 

i6mo, Cloth, net 500. SAMUEL McLANAHAN 

“There is a fund of information contained in this little volume 
that those interested in the religious and socialistic problems of the day 
will do well to avail themselves of .” — Presbyterian Banner. 


Our Own Door Home Missions in the South. 

Cloth, Illustrated, net $1.00. Paper, net 35c. S. L. flORRIS 
**This book will be a power in the land. It is brimful of energy and 
common sense enthusiasm. It is aggressive, interesting, instructive.’' 
S/»Utkmttt€m Presbyterian, 


IN MISSION LANDS 


The Egyptian Sudan 

Illustrated, izmo. Cloth, net|i.oo. J. K, QIFFEN 

A new mission field occupied by the American United Presbyter- 
ian Board almost immediately after the capture of Kartoum. The 
story of the mission with its incidental description of the county and 
its resources, the people and their customs is told by the pioneer 
missionary out of his own large and interesting experience. 


On the Borders of Pigmy Land 

Profusely illustrated with photographs, 
lamo. Cloth, net ^1.25. RUTH B« FISHER 

A clever, wide-awake missionary wife can write an interesting 
story almost any time, especially if she has lived among such a-much- 
talked-of people as the African Pigmies, of whom really little is known. 
Mrs. Fisher writes most eatertainingly, and is free from cant and 
commonplace. She is a good observer, and one could wish for many 
more such informing books as this about missionary lands. 

The Pen of Brahma Peeps into Hindu Hearts and Homes 

Illustrated, lamo. Cloth, net $1.25. BEATRICE M. HARBAND 

Miss Harband has a gift for making the life of far-away people 
seem intensely real. A novel is not more fascinating than this picture 
of life told with spirited touch and sympathetic insight. 


The Great Religions of India 

izmo. Cloth, net *1.50. J. MURRAY MITCHELL, M.A.,LL.D. 

A careful presentation of the main tenets of Hinduism, Zoroas- 
trianism, Buddhism, Mohammedanism, and a glance at the beliefs at 
the wilder tribes of India. This study is the result of years of mission- 
ary life and study. 


China’s Christians. 

raatVJl XAal jg Illustrations and colored map. 
izmo. Cloth, net |i.oo. MRS. HOWARD TAYLOR 

“Of surpassing interest. Ought to do much toward deepening the 
spiritual life.”— J. Huds0n Taylor. 

“It is an amazing record, and will at once take rank among the 
most powerful missionary books.” — The Life 0/ Faith. 


Things As They Are Mission Work in Southern India 
Illustrated, ismo, cloth |i. net AflY WILSON CARMICHAEL 
“Remarkable missionary book. Only a woman could so clearly 
see and tell of the horror of being a woman in India.” — Congrega- 
tionalitt. 


The White Peril in the Far Cast 

A study of the ethical and international significance of the Russo- 
Japanese war, by the Author of Evolution of the Japanese. 

izmo, CloA, net $1.00. SIDNEY L. QULICK 

“A concise, clear, comprehensive presentation of the national and 
iateinational interest involved in present movements and tendencies 
viewed as growing from the past”— Outlook, 


IN THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD. 


Modern India 

Illustrated, 8vo, Cloth, net #2.00. 

. WILLIAM ELEROY CURTIS 

so_ many books on India one might ask, why any more ? 
The answer is that Mr. Curtis has a way of finding out what others 
miss, and of telling his story so that it cannot be forgotten. 


E^ypt, Burma and British Malaysia 

Illustrated, 8vo, Cloth, net %2.00. 

WILLIAM ELEROY CURTIS 

Mr. Curtis is the most skillful observer in the ranks of American 
travelers and correspondents. His pages are fascinating pictures of 
life, men and affairs in out-of-the-way places, and moreover he tells 
one just the things most worth knowing about everywhere he goes, 
whether it is scenery, politics, business or religion. 


The Mediterranean Traveller dafJ^-Sedelfe?’ 

2nd Edition, revised. Illustrations and Maps, i2mo. Cloth, net $2.50. 


DANIEL E. LORENZ 

“Gives essential facts in one compact volume, and it is done well. 
Treats in order Madeira, Southern Spain and Gibraltar, crosses the 
Strait to Tangier, Algiers and Tripoli, then carries the reader to Tur- 
key, Palestine and Egypt, and returns him along the northern shores, 
through Italy and the Riviera. The traveler will find it of service in 
planning his travels through these fascinating lands.” — N. V. Sun. 


Round the World Toward the Westering 
Sun 

i2mo, Clothj net $1.25. LEE S. SMITH 

In an earlier volume “Through Egypt and Palestine” Mr. Smith 
gave ample evidence of his ability to write entertaingly. In this new 
book, with a wider field he has produced not only an exceedingly in- 
teresting work, but a valuable guide to intending tourists. 


Two Years in Three Continents 

8vo, Cloth, net $2.00. E. M. CONDIT 

“It is impossible to read the cheerful narrative of this lively globe- 
trotter without absorbing some of his enthusiasm, for he is full of it.” — 
Boston Transcript. 


Missions from the Modern View 

Introduction by Charles Cuthbert Hall, D.D. 

i2mo. Cloth, net $1.25. ROBERT A. HUME 

“Dr. Hume’s treatment of the theme is that of one on the firing 
line, engaged in manifold practical activities but at the same time 
keeping pace with the best Christian thought of England and Amer- 
ca. ” — Congregationalist. 


THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 


How to Conduct a Sunday School 

2nd Edition. z2mo. Cloth, net $1.25. MARION LA VVRANCE 
General Secretary of the International Sunday School Association 

“'Packed full of useful information. Filled with details, specific 
and practical, for which a host of workers have longed and prayed. 
The book gives the cream of life-long experience and observation. In 
its concrete details lies its unique and practical service .” — The Ex- 
Atntner. 


Pencil Points for Preacher and Teacher 

With an Introduction by Rev. Robert S. McArthur, D.D. 
Illustrated, Cloth, net $1.25. ROBERT F. Y. PIERCE 

Dr. Pierce is the recognized exponent of the art of conveying 
Scripture truth by means of blackboard sketches and object lessons. 
Crowded with illustrations of blackboard drawings and suggestions 
and forms a fitting companion to his popular book, “Pictured Truth.” 


Kindergarten Bible Stories om Testament. 

Illustrated, lamo. Cloth, net $1.25. By LAURA E. CRAQIN. 
Devoted to the stories of which the little folks never tire, but told 
in the inimitable style for #hich this author has an exceptional gift 
as well as a peculiar discernment in bringing out the lesson of value. 


How to Plan a Lesson A"" °schooi™ach“s.®“"''“'' 

and Edition. i6mo. Cloth, net soc. MARIANNA C. BROWN 

“Suggestive, interesting, valuable The writer is an experienced 

teacher, who has made proof of her theories, and who is well able to 
make valuable suggestions .” — Herald and Presbyter 


The Gist of the Lesson — 1906 

{Vest pocket size") R, A. TORREY 

Interleaved, Leather, net 50c 

The seventh annual issue of this multum in parvo upon the Inter- 
national Sunday School lessons. A most popular exposition. Nearly 
fifty thousand copies sold annually. 


Practical S. S. Lesson Commentary For 1906 

Carefully prepared by specialists in the various departments with 
Map and Blackboard exercises. 8vo, Cloth, 50c. net, postage extra. 

Its practical value and marked spiritual expositions have given It 
a permanent place Fourteenth Year. 


The Twentieth Century New Testament 

Final Revised Translation 1905. 

Cloth, net $1.00; Morocco, net $1.50 ; Morocco, gilt edges, netli.oo. 
Morocco Divinity Circuit, net $3.50; India Paper Edition, net $5.00. 

All criticism has now been carefully considered and the results 
embodied in the New Revised and Final Edition. This Is the product 
of thirteen years labor by a score of translators and is practically a 
mew translation. 


DEVOTIONAL STUDIES 


The Christ of To-Day What ? Whence ? Whither 7 
i6mo. Boards, net 50c. Q. CAnPBELL MORGAN 

A study originally presented from the platform of the Northfield 
Conferences, awakening exceptional interest at the time. No more 
suggestive work has appeared from Dr. Morgan’s pen. 


The Redeemed Life After Death 

i6mo. Boards, net 50c. CHARLES CUTHBERT HALL 
Not a new theory of Immortality or a review of old theories, but a 
presentation with rare literary charm and with the comprehension of 
wide scholarship, of the grip of the Christian heart upon the life to 
come. It will comfort and assure the sorrowing, guide and convince 
the inquiring. 


Moments of Silence 

lamo. Cloth, net $1.25. ALEXANDER SHELLIE, M. A. 

A book of daily meditations for a year. 


Yet Another Day 

32mo, Cloth, net, 250. Leather, net, 35c. J, H. JOWETT, M.A. 

A brief prayer for every day of the year, and it is not too much to 
say that, although scarcely any one of them contains one hundred 
words and most of them far less, they will drive straight to the heart 
as nothing that ever came from Mr. Jewett’s pen. It is an extraordi- 
nary, little book, the flower of the sweetest, open eyed love of Christ. 
The impression of a single page is indelible. 


The Inner Chamber of the Inner Life 

i2mo. Cloth, net 75c. _ ANDREW MURRAY 

Suggests thoughts of the utmost importance as to the daily need of 
retirement, the true spirit of prayer, the fellowship with God, and 
kindred topics. 


Inter-Communion With God 

i2mo. Cloth, net $1.00. MARSHALL P. TALLING, PH.D. 

“Follows the theme of ‘Extempore prayer,' along wider and 
higher lines. In the present book, true prayer is shown to be an 
approach from both the human and the divine sides .” — The West- 
minster. 


Bible Etchings of Immortality 

i2mo. Cloth, decorated, net 50c. ^ _ CAflDEN M. COBERN 

“The consolatory character of this little book makes it a suitable 
gift to a bereaved friend,” — Outlook. 


Scripture Selections to Memorize 

With hanger, net $1.00. ^ HELEN MILLER GOULD 

A Wall Roll of passages emphasizing the power and love of God, 
the dignity of man, Christ as teacher, Redeemer, King. The life of 
the Christian, his duties, his final reward; prayer; worship; love. 
Selections from the Old and New Testaments, most helpful in strength- 
cniog faith, and deepening personal devotion. 


BIBLICAL STUDIES. 


Studies in the Life of the Christinn 

His Faith and His Service. 

z6mo. Cloth, net 50c. : paper, net 25c. H. T. SELL 

This work, prepared especially for the use of Bible Classes and 
study circles, forms the seventh of the series of most popular manuals 
by Dr. Sell, and well completes the whole. Every phase of the Chris- 
tian life and its relations is dealt with. 


Outline Studies in the Ne\\ Testament 

Philippians to Hebrews. 

i2mo, Cloth, net $1.20. PROF. WILLIAM G. HOOREHEAD 

“It is a book for thoughtful students of the Bible and will be found 
very helpful and satisfactory by preachers in preparation of sermons 
and by Bible class teachers .” — The Watchman. 


Students Chronological New Testament 

With historical notes and brief outline on each Book, by 
8vo, Cloth, net $1.00. PROF. A. T. ROBERTSON 

“The text used is taken from the American Standard edition of 
the revised version, and the books are considered in accordance with 
the generally accepted theory of their chronology. Each book is pre- 
ceded by a brief synopsis and outline . The volume is designed for all 
readers and students of the New Testament .” — Epworth Herald. 


The Biblical Illustrator in oidT.s..un.n. 

Large Svo, Cloth, $2.00 each vol. 

Edited by JOSEPH 5 . EXELL 
Psalms, vol. I [Psa. I. to xxvi.]. Jeremiah, vol. i. 

Isaiah, vol i, [Chapter i. to xxx.]. Minor Prophets, vol. i. 

Deuteronomy — in one volume. Minor Prophets, vol. 2. 


The Mei\ of the Bible by the Men of the 

Century In Seventeen Handsome Cloth Volumes 

Formerly $17.00, now $6.00 net, per set. 

Edited by JOSEPH S. EXELL. n. A* 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon and Judge% 
Kings of Israel aud Judah, David, Solomon, Samuel^ and Saul, Dan* 
iel, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezraand Nehmiah, Minor Prophets, St. 
Paul, Jesus Christ. Send for circular of our special terms. 


BOOKLETS. 


^VftXWing The Story of a College Girl’s Awakening. 

Boards, 30c. CAROLINE ATWATER MASON 

The story of a healthy-minded college girl whose views of life are 
transformed by the accidental meeting with a returned missionary. 


Breaking the Record. 

The Swan Creek Blizzard 

Art boards, each 30c. RALPH CONNOR 

Sure to receive a large welcome among many admirers. 


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